Tire monitoring apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for measuring a physical quantity, property or condition and for transmitting a code representing the measured physical quantity, property or condition. The method includes the steps of developing a first signal in response to a physical quantity, property or condition, sampling the first signal to produce an instantaneous first signal value, assigning a first code to the instantaneous first signal value, and transmitting the first code for reception by a receiver. The method and apparatus are explained in connection with a vehicle tire monitoring apparatus wherein plurality of tire units measure tire pressures and temperatures and transmit values representing pressure and temperature to a central receiver located in a cab portion of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring a physicalquantity, property or condition, transmitting a code representing thephysical property, quantity or condition to a receiver and displaying arepresentation of the physical property, quantity or condition on adisplay at a central location. Such an apparatus and method hasparticular application in monitoring pressures and temperatures of airin tires, and displaying such air pressures and temperatures on adisplay located in a cab portion of a vehicle on which the apparatus isinstalled.

In pneumatic tired vehicles such as mining trucks, logging trucks, andsemi-trailers etc, pneumatic tire problems can affect the operating costof such vehicles. Operating costs are affected when a tire becomes flatdue to wear or puncture as tires must often be replaced or repaired.This leads not only to a cost in effecting the repair but also leads toa cost due to temporary loss of use of the vehicle.

Other problems associated with pneumatic tires include road wear due toimproperly inflated tires and loss of effectiveness of anti-lock brakingsystems resulting from reduced friction due to over or under inflationof tires.

Operating costs of vehicles can, however, be minimized and road wear andloss of effectiveness of anti-lock breaking systems can be reduced bycareful maintenance of tires. More specifically, if tire pressures aremonitored and maintained within pre-defined limits, tire wear and roadwear can be reduced and the effectiveness of anti-lock braking systemscan be maintained. Additionally, if the air temperature within a tire ismonitored, excessive heating of the tire can be observed, serving as awarning that possible tire damage or blowout is imminent.

Previously, monitoring of tire pressures and temperatures was done bysimply using a conventional tire gauge to measure tire pressure and bysimply touching the tire to determine if it appeared excessively warm.While the use of the pressure gauge is reasonably accurate, it couldonly be used while the vehicle was stopped. Measuring temperature alsohad to be done while the vehicle was stopped and an operator could onlyguess that the tire may be too hot.

What is required therefore is a method and apparatus for monitoring tirepressures and temperatures while the vehicle is in use.

Certain inventors before us have sought to address the problem ofmeasuring tire pressure. For example the U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,728 toBetts et al discloses a low tire warning system which monitors tireinflation and sends a coded signal to a central receiver when the tireinflation is less than a predetermined value or threshold. It appearsthat actual tire pressure is not monitored, but instead a warning isgenerated when threshold is attained. Furthermore, there appears to beno mention of measurement of air temperature within the tire.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,857 to Gandhi discloses a tire pressure sensor andair supply for maintaining a desired air pressure in a tire. The devicemonitors air pressure in a tire by creating movement of areluctance-type of pressure sensing element which cooperates with areceiving transducer mounted adjacent the tire, on the frame of thevehicle. While continuous measurement of tire pressure is possible,installation of a plurality of reluctance sensor elements andcorresponding transducers is required. Furthermore, the transducers mustbe placed in close proximity to the sensor elements on the tiresresulting in little clearance between the sensor and transducer. Thiscan leave the system susceptible to damage due to debris lifted from theroad by a tire as could frequently occur if the device was used with amining vehicle or logging truck. Furthermore, Gandhi does not appear todisclose simultaneous monitoring of air temperature within a tire.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,235 to Markland et al. discloses a method andapparatus for measuring air in pneumatic tires. The system involves theuse of first and second coils embedded in a portion of roadway overwhich the vehicle is driven and stopped upon. The first coil excites aprimary receiving coil of a transducer embedded within the tire andthereby provides power to the transducer. The transducer then measuresthe air pressure in the tire and produces an output signal which has afrequency proportional to air pressure in the tire. This output signalis received by the second coil in the roadway which is connected to amonitoring apparatus beside the roadway. There is no mention that thedevice may be modified to permit monitoring of tire pressure andtemperature while the vehicle is in use.

The present invention seeks to solve the problem of monitoring tirepressure and temperature while the vehicle is in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method and apparatus for measuring a physical quantity,property or condition and for transmitting a code representing themeasured physical quantity, property or condition. The apparatusincludes means for performing the following method steps

a) developing a first signal in response to a physical quantity,property or condition;

b) sampling the first signal to produce an instantaneous first signalvalue;

c) assigning a first code to the instantaneous first signal value; and

d) transmitting the first code for reception by a receiver.

In accordance with the invention, the physical quantity, property orcondition is sampled at a rate depending upon whether or not the sampledvalue meets a given set of conditions, the sampling rate being increasedwhen the sampled value is found to meet an adverse set of conditions.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus including:

(a) a pneumatic tire;

(b) a transducer for developing a first signal in response to airpressure or air temperature within the tire;

(c) sampling the first signal to produce an instantaneous first signalvalue;

(d) assigning a first code to the instantaneous first signal value; and

(e) transmitting the first code for reception by a receiver.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus and method for receiving transmitted codes from a remotedevice, the apparatus including means for performing the followingmethod steps:

(a) receiving a received transmission having a received identifier, areceived code and a re-synchronizing code;

(b) extracting and storing the received identifier and the received codefrom the received transmission;

(c) determining which identifier has been received; and

(d) displaying a representation of the received code while providing anidentification of the received code.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided amethod and system for measuring a physical quantity, property orcondition, transmitting a code representing the physical property,quantity or condition to a receiver and displaying a representation ofthe physical property, quantity or condition on a display at a centrallocation. In accordance with another aspect of the invention there isprovided an apparatus and method for receiving transmitted codes from aremote device, the apparatus including means for performing thefollowing method steps:

(a) developing a first signal in response to a physical quantity,property or condition;

(b) sampling the first signal to produce an instantaneous first signalvalue;

(c) assigning a first code to the instantaneous first signal value;

(d) transmitting the first code for reception by a receiver,

(e) receiving the first code; and

(f) producing signals in response to the first code to control a displaydevice to display a representation of the first code.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus and method for receiving transmitted codes from a remotedevice, the apparatus including means for performing the followingmethod steps:

(a) providing a plurality of measurement and transmission circuits, eachcircuit:

(i) developing a signal in response to a respective physical quantity,property or condition;

(ii) sampling the signal to produce an instantaneous signal value;

(iii) assigning a first code to the instantaneous signal value;

(iv) transmitting a transmission including the code and an identifierunique to the circuit;

(b) receiving a received transmission from each of the measurement andtransmission circuits;

(c) extracting and storing the identifier and the code from the receivedtransmission;

(d) determining which identifier has been received; and

(d) displaying a representation of the received code while providing anidentification of the received code.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus including:

a) a body having connecting means for connecting the body to a valvestem of a tire and a chamber pressurized by air from the tire;

b) measuring means for measuring an instantaneous value of air pressurein the chamber, the measuring means including sampling means forautomatically sampling the instantaneous value of the at least oneoperating parameter at regular intervals in time; and

c) transmitting means for transmitting a representation of theinstantaneous value and for transmitting an identification foridentifying the transmitter.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus and method of simultaneously performing analog to digitalconversion on a plurality of input signals, the apparatus includingmeans for performing the following method steps:

a) starting a voltage ramp generator circuit for producing a rampvoltage;

b) incrementing a digital counter at regular intervals in time while theramp voltage is being generated;

c) comparing each of the input signals to the ramp voltage while theramp voltage is being generated;

d) loading an instantaneous count value from the counter into aparameter register corresponding to whichever input signal has a voltageless than the ramp voltage;

e) repeating the steps of comparing and loading until the ramp voltageis greater than the voltage of each of the plurality of input signals.

The invention addresses the problem of monitoring a physical property,quantity, or condition at a remote device and permits transmission of acode representing the monitored physical, quantity, or condition to acentral receiving device. A plurality of monitoring devices may be usedwith a single receiver rendering an apparatus according to the inventionparticularly useful in monitoring air pressures and temperatures oftires on a vehicle. The air pressure and air temperature of air withineach tire on a vehicle such as a mining truck or semi-trailer unit canbe monitored inside a cab portion of the vehicle to alert an operator toany potential problems with the tires. Furthermore, as the coderepresenting the actual measured value is sent to the receiver, thereceiver can display, in real time, a numerical indication of the airpressure or air temperature of a particular tire in units of pressure ortemperature accordingly. Furthermore such indication can be providedwhile the operator is driving the vehicle, which eliminates the need totake the vehicle out of productive use to measure air pressures or airtemperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mining truck on which an apparatusaccording to first embodiment of the invention is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two tire units according to theinvention shown mounted on a dual wheel assembly of the mining truck ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting bracket for mounting thetire unit of FIG. 2 onto the dual wheel assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a tire unit according to the firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of measurement circuitry accordingto the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram according to a main program executed on a firstmicrocontroller according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a memory map of registers used by the main program of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a memory map of registers used in connection with ananalog-to-digital conversion program according to the first embodimentof the invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are first and second portions respectively of a flowdiagram according to the analog-to-digital algorithm according to thefirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram according to a unit conversion algorithmaccording to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a memory map of registers used by the unit conversion routineof FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram according to a comparing routine according tothe first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a memory map of registers used by the comparing routine ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a memory map of fixed registers used by the comparing routineof FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram according to a sample save routine accordingto the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a memory map of registers used by a transmit routineaccording to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram according to the transmit routine;

FIG. 18 is a timing diagram of a transmit protocol produced by thetransmit routine of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of a transmitter circuit accordingto the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram of a receiver circuit according tothe first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a reference level adjuster circuitaccording to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of a subcontroller monitoring program executedby a subcontroller according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram of an accessory checking routine executed bythe subcontroller;

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram of a zero sequence detector subroutineexecuted by the subcontroller;

FIG. 25 is a flow diagram of a 010 sequence handling subroutine executedby the subcontroller;

FIGS. 26A and 26B are first and second portions respectively of a flowdiagram of a data handling routine executed by the subcontroller;

FIG. 27 is a memory map of bit storage registers implemented in RAM onthe subcontroller;

FIG. 28 is a flow diagram of a second microcontroller activation routineexecuted by the subcontroller;

FIG. 29 is a flow diagram of an upload routine executed by thesubcontroller;

FIG. 30 is a plan view of a keyboard display unit according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram of a main loop of a receiver program executedby a second microcontroller;

FIG. 32 is a memory map of tables of registers used by the receiverprogram;

FIG. 33 is a flow diagram of a keyboard checking routine executed by thesecond microcontroller;

FIG. 34 is a flow diagram of a codes routine executed by the secondmicrocontroller;

FIG. 35 is a pictorial representation of mapping physical vehicle andtrailer axles to numeric representations in an AXLEMAP subtable and aUSEDMAP table according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 36 is a limits routine executed by the second microcontroller;

FIG. 37 is a flow diagram of a data transfer routine executed by thesecond microcontroller;

FIG. 38 is a flow diagram of a register-to-table copy routine executedby the second microcontroller;

FIG. 39 is a flow diagram of a pressure checking routine executed by thesecond microcontroller;

FIG. 40 is a table copy routine executed by the second microcontroller;

FIGS. 41A and 41B are first and second portions respectively of a flowdiagram according to a comparing routine executed by the secondmicrocontroller; and

FIG. 42 is a flow diagram of an axle routine executed by the secondmicrocontroller.

FIG. 43 is a cross sectional view of a tire unit connected to a wheel,according to an alternative method of mounting the tire unit to thewheel.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE General Apparatus

Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus for monitoring a respective operatingparameter of each of a plurality of remotely situated devices is showngenerally at 30. The apparatus is shown mounted on a conventional miningtractor 32 having six wheels, three being designated generally at 36, 37and 38 respectively. Each wheel has an associated pneumatic tire withassociated operating parameters which, in this embodiment include airpressure and temperature. The air pressure and temperature of air ineach tire is measured and transmitted to a central location inside a cabportion 40 of the tractor 32. A cab unit 42 receives, displays andperforms tests upon the air pressures and temperatures of the tires toalert the driver to potential problems with the tires.

To effect measuring and transmission of the operating parameters of thetires, each tire is fitted with a tire unit 44 which performs thefunctions of measuring and transmitting. An antenna 46 is connected tothe cab unit 42 and permits the cab unit to receive a transmission fromeach of the tire units, each transmission including a representation ofrespective operating parameters of a respective tire.

Tire Unit Tire Unit Mounting

Referring to FIG. 2, two tire units 44.1 and 44.2 are shown mounted ondual wheels 38. A separate tire unit is connected to each tire. Thusreferring to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, there are six tire unitsassociated with the tractor.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the tires of the dual wheels 38 hasa respective flexible pipe 88.3 and 88.4 which extends from inside thetire to an outer facing rim 39. The rim 39 has openings, one of which isshown at 39.1 in FIG. 3, through which the flexible pipes 88.3 and 88.4extend. The flexible pipes 88.3 and 88.4 have respective end portions towhich are attached respective extension conduits 47.1 and 47.2respectively. Extension conduit 47.1 is fastened to a plate 40 byopposing nuts 48.1 and 49.1. Extension conduit 47.2 is fastened to theplate 40 in a similar manner.

The plate 40 is connected to a mounting bracket 45 including first andsecond protective shrouds 45.1 and 45.2 mounted on opposite sides of theopening 39.1. The shrouds are connected to the rim 39 by bolts 55extending through the plate 40 and through bushings and throughrespective shrouds 45.1 and 45.2.

Tire units 44.1 and 44.2 are mounted on to the extension conduits 47.1and 47.2 respectively by adaptor fittings 56.1 and 56.2 respectively.

Tire Unit Structure

Referring to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of tire unit 44.1 isillustrated. The tire unit includes a generally cylindrical body 48having a longitudinal axis 49, a conduit portion 51 and a housingportion 53. A conduit 50 is formed in the conduit portion, the conduit50 having an L-shape including an axial portion 52 having a firstopening 52.1 connectable to the valve stem and a transverse portion 54having a second opening 54.1, the axial portion being coincident withthe longitudinal axis 49 and the transverse portion being normal to theaxis 49.

The axial portion 52 is threaded to receive the adapter fitting 56.1mounted on the extension conduit 47.1 of FIG. 3. The threaded axialportion acts as connecting means for connecting the body to a valve stemof a tire. Referring back to FIG. 4, the adaptor fitting has inner andouter O-rings 61 and 63 respectively for sealing the adaptor to theextension conduit and axial portion 52 respectively.

The transverse portion 54 is threaded to receive an extension conduit 58in which is mounted a conventional tire valve member 60. The extensionconduit 58 has an O-ring 65 which prevents the escape of air about theextension conduit 58. Air is forced into the tire by connecting aconventional air hose (not shown) to the extension conduit 58 whereuponthe valve member 60 is opened and air is permitted to flow into the tirein a direction indicated by arrow 62. Upon removal of the air hose, thevalve member 60 closes and air is prevented from escaping from the tire.

The body 48 further includes a relatively small air passage 64 incommunication with and extending between the conduit 50 and a firstchamber 66 in the housing portion 53. The air passage 64 conducts airfrom the conduit 50 into the first chamber 66. Air in first chamber 66is therefore at the same pressure as air in the tire, hence the firstchamber is pressurized by air from the tire.

First chamber 66 is generally cylindrical in shape and has a first endportion 70 with a threaded circular wall portion 72 extending therefrom.A second end portion of the first chamber 66 is formed by a circular,disc-shaped first printed wiring board 74. A resilient O-ring 76 acts asa seal between the first printed wiring board and the wall portion 72. Acircular cylindrical collar 80 having an outside threaded portion 81 issecured to the threaded circular wall portion 72 and serves to securethe first printed wiring board 74 tightly against the seal in the firstchamber 66. A generally circular cap 78 having a circular cylindricalwall 83 extending therefrom has a threaded end portion 82 incomplementary engagement with the outside threaded portion 81.

The first printed wiring board 74 contains measurement circuitry andcomponents 75 for measuring an instantaneous value of temperature andpressure of air within the first chamber 66. The board has a groundtrack 99 which is aligned with and in contact with collar 80 to providean electrical connection to collar 80. Collar 80 is also in electricalconnection with the cylindrical body 48 which is in connection with theadaptor fitting 56 which is further in connection with the mountingbracket 45 of FIG. 2 which provides a chassis-ground connection to therim 39 and the chassis of the vehicle. Such connection between theground track and the chassis of the vehicle enhances transmission ofsignals from the tire unit to the cab unit 42 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring back to FIG. 4, a second printed wiring board 84 is connectedto the first printed wiring board 74 and extends normal thereto,parallel with the axis 49. The second printed wiring board containstransmitter circuitry and components forming a transmitter showngenerally at 86, the transmitter being for transmitting a representationof the instantaneous values of the pressure and temperature and fortransmitting an identification for identifying the specific transmitterand thus a specific tire. The transmitter includes an antenna showngenerally at 88, the antenna having a coiled portion 89 coiled aroundthe second printed wiring board and having a straight portion 91 whichextends along the axis 49 of the body 48. The straight portion of theantenna extends through a circular opening 90 formed in the cap 78 andtherefore extends from the body 48. An interface between the opening 90and the antenna 88 is sealed by a conventional silicone sealant material92 to prevent moisture ingress.

Power for the transmitter circuit 86 and the measurement circuit 75 isprovided by a conventional 9 volt battery 94 capable of operating underthe operating temperature conditions of the tire. The battery is housedin a second chamber 95 formed in the cap 78, the second chamber beingdisposed on an opposite side of the axis 49 to that of the transmitter86.

Measurement Circuitry Sensors

Referring to FIG. 5, the measurement circuitry 75 is shown generally at100 in functional block diagram form. The measurement circuitry includesa temperature sensor circuit 102, a pressure sensor circuit 104, abattery interface circuit 106, a reference voltage circuit 108, avoltage ramp generator circuit 110, a plurality of comparators 112 and afirst microcontroller 114.

Temperature Sensor

In this embodiment, the temperature sensor circuit 102 includes aprecision centigrade sensor 116 which produces a temperature outputsignal 118 having a voltage proportional to the temperature of air inthe first chamber 66 shown in FIG. 3. The output signal has a minimumvoltage of approximately 0.1 volts at -40 degrees celsius and a maximumvoltage of 1.8 volts at 130 degrees celsius. The temperature sensorcircuit thus acts as temperature measurement means for measuring thetemperature of air in the tire.

Pressure Sensor

In this embodiment the pressure sensor circuit 104 includes a Wheatstonebridge-type of pressure sensor 120 which acts as pressure measurementmeans for measuring the pressure of air in the tire. The pressure sensorcircuit illustrated produces a pressure output signal 122 having avoltage proportional to pressure in the first chamber 66 of FIG. 4.Thus, the voltage varies in response to air pressure in the firstchamber. The output signal has a minimum voltage of 0.1 volt atatmospheric pressure and a maximum voltage of 2.4 volts at 130 psi gaugepressure. The pressure sensor circuit thus acts as a transducer fordeveloping the pressure output signal in response to air pressure in thetire.

Battery Interface Circuit

The battery interface circuit 106 includes a conventional voltagedivider circuit (not shown) having a battery output signal 124 having avoltage proportional to the voltage of battery 94 of FIG. 4. In thisembodiment the voltage divider is designed to provide a battery outputsignal of approximately 2.5 volts when the battery 94 has an opencircuit voltage of 9 volts. The voltage appearing on the battery outputsignal line 124 depends upon the condition of the battery and the loadpresented to the battery and generally decreases as battery power isdepleted.

Reference Voltage Circuit

The reference voltage circuit 108 includes a voltage reference 126,identified as an LM385 available from National Semiconductor Corporationof Santa Clara Calif. The reference voltage circuit 108 produces areference output signal 128 having a constant voltage of approximately2.5 volts, independent of temperature.

Voltage Ramp Generator Circuit

The voltage ramp generator circuit 110 generates a ramp voltage linearlyincreasing in time from an initial value of approximately 0 volts to amaximum level of approximately 2.5 volts. The ramp voltage appears on aramp signal line 130. The circuit includes a ramp capacitor 132 which ischarged by the ramp voltage and which is discharged through a resistor134 connectable to signal ground through the first microcontroller 114,which will be more fully described below. The ramp generator circuit 110has an input 136 which is controlled by the first microcontroller toenable and disable the ramp generator circuit.

Comparators

The comparators include a temperature comparator 138, a pressurecomparator 140, a battery comparator 142, and a reference comparator144. Each of the comparators 138 through 144 has a respective invertinginput(-) and non-inverting input(+). The ramp signal line 130 isprovided to the non-inverting input(+) of each of the comparators whilethe output signals 118 through 128 from the temperature, pressure,battery and reference circuits 102 through 108 are provided torespective inverting inputs. The temperature comparator 138 has anoutput which produces a temperature signal 146 having a high voltagelevel when the ramp voltage is greater than the voltage of thetemperature output signal 118. The pressure comparator 140 has an output148 which produces a pressure signal having a high level when the rampvoltage is greater than the voltage of the pressure output signal 122.The battery comparator 142 has an output 150 which produces a batterysignal having a high level when the ramp voltage is greater than thebattery voltage and the reference comparator 144 has an output 152 whichproduces a reference signal having a high level when the referencevoltage is equal to the ramp voltage. The comparators thus act asproducing means for producing comparison signals corresponding to eachinput signal, the corresponding signals indicating whether or not aninput signal has a voltage greater than the ramp voltage.

First Microcontroller

In this embodiment, the first microcontroller 114 has a timer circuit154, a central processing unit 156, a read-only memory (ROM) 158 and arandom access memory (RAM) 160 and 12 input/output pins which areconfigured as two programmable input/output ports, designated as port"A" 162 and port "B" 164. The first microcontroller further has aconstant instruction cycle time wherein the cycle time to complete anyinstruction of program code is the same as the cycle time to execute anyother instruction, i.e. each programmed instruction takes the sameamount of time to execute. Finally, the first microcontroller has afeature which enables it to be placed into a low power mode for apre-determined period of time after which it automatically executespre-determined program instructions stored in the ROM 158.

Watchdog Timer Circuit

The timer circuit 154 provides a clock pulse to the CPU 156 at regularintervals, which in this embodiment are 2.5 second intervals. Clockpulses produced by the timer circuit interrupt the CPU and cause a mainprogram to be entered, as will be more fully explained below.

The functions of the RAM, ROM and CPU would be clear to one of ordinaryskill in the art. Specific registers allocated in the RAM and ROM aredescribed more fully later. The input/output ports are describedimmediately below.

Port A and Port B

Both ports A and B are programmable in that each pin may be individuallyprogrammed to be an input, an output or tristated. Programming of theindividual pins is achieved by writing to respective port A and port Bregisters (not shown) corresponding to ports A and B. When a pin of aport is selected to be an output, the state of the pin is programmed bywriting a binary 1 or 0 to a bit position in the respective portregister corresponding to that pin. When a pin of a port is selected tobe an input, the state of the pin is read by reading the correspondingbit position of the corresponding port register.

Port A

Port A includes four pins designated RA0-RA3. In the embodiment shown,each pin of port A is programmed as an output while each individual pinof port B is dynamically configured as either an output, an input ortristate. RA0 provides an enable signal which enables or disables thecomparators 138-144. By enabling and disabling the comparators, power tothe comparators and hence power consumption of the circuit iscontrolled. RA1 provides a connection to ground for resistor 134, whichhas the effect of enabling and disabling charging of capacitor 132 andthereby enables or disables generation of the ramp voltage by the rampgenerator circuit 110. RA2 provides a start signal to the ramp circuiton input 136. RA2 is set active when it is desired to start the rampgenerator circuit 110. RA3 provides an RFMOD signal which is used tosupply a serial stream of data to be transmitted by the transmittercircuitry.

Port B

Port B has eight pins designated RB0-RB7. RB0, RB6 and RB7 arepermanently programmed to be inputs. RB0 is tied high while RB6 and RB7are both tied low. RB1-RB4 are dynamically changed between inputs andoutputs as will be more fully explained below and RB5 is permanentlyprogrammed as an output and is connected to a MOSFET 147 for control ofa radio frequency (RF) ground path 149 for the transmitter. This permitspower consumption of the transmitter circuit 86 of FIG. 3 to becontrolled by the microprocessor 114.

The measurement circuit shown generally at 100 in FIG. 5, acquires datarelating to operating parameters monitored by sensor circuits 102 and104 and acquires data relating to operating parameters of themeasurement circuit through the battery interface circuit 106 and thereference voltage circuit 108. The measurement circuit samples eachindividual operating parameter, performs an analog-to-digital conversionthereon, and dispatches digital values representing the measuredoperating parameters in the serial stream of data appearing at RA3.

Main Program Modes of Operation

The circuit 100 is controlled by a main program residing in ROM 158 ofthe first microcontroller 114. The main program is shown in flow diagramform in FIG. 6 and is designated generally at 200. The main programcooperates with the timer circuit 154, shown in FIG. 5, whereupon thefirst microcontroller is placed into one of two modes; an active modeand a low power mode. Upon receipt of a clock pulse from the timercircuit 154, the first microcontroller is placed into the active modewhere it executes instructions according to the main program. When themain program is finished executing instructions, the firstmicrocontroller is placed into the low power mode wherein minimal poweris consumed by the measurement and transmitter circuits 75 and 86 untilthe next timer clock pulse is received, 2.5 seconds later. Operation ofthe circuit in the active mode will therefore now be described.

Overview of Main Program

Referring to FIG. 6, the main program is shown generally at 200. Themain program cooperates with a plurality of registers existing in RAM160 in FIG. 5, the registers being shown generally at 399 in FIG. 7. Theregisters include first and second interrupt counters 401 and 402, firstand second interrupt limit registers 403 and 404, and a fast transmitcount register 407. The first and second interrupt counter registers 401and 402 are used to keep track of timer interrupts received when thefirst microcontroller exits the low power mode. The first and secondinterrupt limit registers hold pre-set values which are compared torespective interrupt count registers to determine actions to take withinthe main program. The fast transmit count register normally contains thevalue zero, however, when special conditions occur in the program, thisregister is loaded and decremented to keep track of successivetransmissions as will be described below.

Referring now to FIG. 6, upon receiving 202, a clock pulse from thetimer circuit 154 of FIG. 5, the main program is entered. Upon entry ofthe main program, the first and second interrupt counter registers 401and 402 of FIG. 7 are incremented 203 to record the occurrence of theinterrupt. Next, the fast transmit count register 407 is read 201 todetermine whether the contents are greater than zero. Under normalconditions, the contents of the fast transmit count register 407 will bezero and in such a case, program flow continues with step 214 whereinthe contents of the second interrupt count register 402 are compared tothe contents of the second interrupt limit register 404 to determinewhether or not the contents of the second interrupt count register 402are greater than the contents of the second interrupt limit register404. The contents of the second interrupt limit register represent anumber of interrupts which would be received in a ten minute period.Thus, using the second interrupt counter, a timer is implemented wherebyinterrupts from the timer circuit are counted to determine when tenminutes has passed. If ten minutes have not passed, step 199 comparesthe contents of the first interrupt count register 401 with the contentsof the first interrupt limit register 403 to determine whether or nottwenty seconds has passed. The first interrupt limit counter holds anumber representing the number of interrupts expected to be received ina twenty second period. If twenty seconds has not passed, program flowcontinues by returning the first microcontroller 114 to the low powermode as indicated at step 209.

Referring to FIG. 6, it may be seen that step 199 causes, at twentysecond intervals, the program to perform an analog-to-digital conversionas indicated at 204, performs a unit conversion as indicated at 206 andperforms a comparison routine as indicated at 208. In addition, step 214causes, every ten minutes, the main program to perform ananalog-to-digital conversion 204.1, a unit conversion 206.1, and asample save routine 210. In addition, the main program resets 220 thefirst and second interrupt counter registers 401 and 402, performs atransmit routine 212, and returns the first microcontroller to the lowpower mode as indicated at 209. In addition, should the fast transmitcount register 407 have contents greater than zero, indicating anabnormal condition as will be described below, the main programdecrements the fast transmit count register 213, and performs stepsidentical to those occurring at ten minute intervals, namely theanalog-to-digital conversion 204.1, the unit conversion 206.1, thesample save routine 210, the resetting 220 of the first and secondinterrupt counters 401 and 402, the transmit routine 212, and returningthe microcontroller to the low power mode 209.

Analog to Digital Conversion Subroutine General Discussion

It will be appreciated that it is desirable to perform all functions ofcircuit 100 shown in FIG. 5 using a minimum number of components,thereby minimizing cost and space requirements while maintainingaccuracy and while permitting the analog-to-digital conversion to beperformed in a relatively short period of time. Consequently, acooperation is formed between the comparators 138 through 144, the firstmicrocontroller 114 and the analog-to-digital conversion algorithm 204.

Registers Used in A/D Conversion

Referring to FIG. 8, the analog-to-digital algorithm cooperates with aplurality of analog-to-digital registers 300 which are implemented inthe RAM 160 of FIG. 5. The registers include a counter register 302, atemperature register 304, a pressure register 306 a battery register308, and a reference register 310.

Upon entry into the analog-to-digital algorithm, all of theanalog-to-digital registers 300 are initialized to zero. Upon exit ofthe analog-to-digital algorithm, the temperature register contains acount value corresponding to the temperature measured by sensor 116 ofFIG. 5, the pressure register 306 contains a count value correspondingto pressure measured by pressure sensor 120 of FIG. 5, the batteryregister 308 contains a count value corresponding to battery voltagedetected by interface circuit 106 of FIG. 5, and the reference registercontains a value corresponding to the reference voltage provided by thereference voltage circuit 108 of FIG. 5. The counter register 302 isused in the process of acquiring appropriate values to be loaded intoregisters 304 through 310.

Initialization of Registers

Referring to FIG. 9A, the analog-to-digital algorithm is shown generallyat 204. The algorithm begins with step 316 by enabling power to thecomparators 138 through 144 of FIG. 5. This is achieved by writing abinary "1" to port A of the first microcontroller, which sets the RA0pin active.

Next, referring back to FIG. 9A step 318 disables the ramp generatorcircuit 110 of FIG. 5 by writing a binary "0" to output RA2 of port A.Next, step 320 writes a binary "0" to RA1 to connect the rampcapacitor-discharge resistor into the circuit. This has the effect ofinitializing the ramp generator circuit 110 to ensure the initialvoltage appearing on signal line 130 is 0 volts. Step 320 then sets RA1tristate to remove the resistor from the circuit to permit the capacitorto charge. Step 322 then configures port B to ignore inputs and a "01H"is written to the port B register. This defines an initial startingvalue for port B. Step 324 then defines port "B" as an input port andthereby renders it ready to receive active signals on inputs RB0 throughRB7. As stated earlier, RB0 is held active, RB1-RB4 are rendered activedepending upon the ramp voltage, and RB5-RB7 are held inactive.Initially, it is assumed that RB1-RB4 will each be inactive as the rampvoltage at this point in the algorithm will be zero volts while signals118 through 128 will be well above zero volts. Consequently, at thispoint in the algorithm, the port B register should contain the value"01H".

Next, step 326 sets the count register contents to zero. The counter isthus initialized. Step 328 then writes a binary "1" to RA2 which has theeffect of starting the ramp voltage generator. The voltage appearing onsignal line 130 then begins to increase linearly in time.

Entry of Count Loop

The A/D algorithm then enters a loop indicated generally at 330, theentry of which is indicated at A in FIG. 9A. The loop includes step 332which increments the counter register 302 of FIG. 6 by one count value.The loop and microcontroller thus act as adding means for adding anincremental value to the counter register. The contents of the counterregister thus increase linearly in time at the same time as the voltageappearing on signal line 130. The counter register and loop thus act asa digital counter which is incremented at regular intervals in timewhile the ramp voltage is being generated. When the ramp voltage exceedsany of the input signals to the comparators, the correspondingcomparator output goes high and remains high. The signals are thussampled by the comparators within a time window determined by themicrocontroller. The comparators act as comparing means for comparingeach of the input signals to the ramp voltage while the ramp voltage isbeing generated. The comparators and microcontroller thus act assampling means for sampling the signals to produce an instantaneousvalue of each signal.

To test which if any comparators have a high output, step 334 decrementsthe port B register. If none of the pins RB1-RB4 has a high levelvoltage the value of the port B register before decrementing will be"01H" and the value after decrementing will be "00H". If any of the pinsRB1-RB4 has a high level voltage, the value of the port B register willbe greater than "01H" and the value after decrementing will be greaterthan "00H". Step 336 then tests the port B register to see whether ornot it is "00H". If the B register contents are "00H", the algorithmremains in loop 330 and program flow repeats steps 332, 334 and 336. Ifthe contents are not "00H", the algorithm branches to a bit testingportion of the A/D algorithm which determines which pin RB1-RB4 has ahigh level voltage or in other words which bit has been set.

Bit Testing Pressure Bit

Still referring to FIG. 9A, step 340 tests the decremented value held inthe "B" register to determine whether or not RB4, the pressure bit, isset. If the pressure bit has been set, program flow branches to apressure storage routine 342 including step 344 which stores the currentvalue of the counter register 302 in the pressure register 306 of FIG.8. The analog-to-digital routine and the microcontroller thus act asassigning means for assigning a code to the instantaneous pressuresignal, the code being the current counter value. Upon saving thecurrent counter value, step 346 re-configures input RB4 to be an outputand sets it to zero in order to place the RB4 pin to inactive, or lowvoltage state so that unless one of pins RB1-RB3 is active, port B willagain contain "01H" before decrementing. Step 348 then increments thecounter register contents twice to compensate for the time taken toexecute steps 340, 344 and 346 to maintain timing accuracy of the A/Dconversion process. Accuracy is maintained because the instruction cycletime of each instruction is the same in the processor used. Program flowthen continues at point A and loop 330 is again entered.

Temperature Bit

If, upon testing the pressure bit in step 340, it is found that thepressure bit has not been set, then step 350 tests the temperature bitto determine whether or not it is set. If the temperature bit is set,step 352 copies the current counter value into the temperature register304 of FIG. 8. The analog-to-digital routine and the firstmicrocontroller thus act as assigning means for assigning a code to theinstantaneous value of the temperature signal, the code being thecurrent counter value. Step 354 then re-configures RB1 to be an outputand sets it to zero. Step 356 then increments the contents of thecounter register twice and program flow continues at point A and theloop 330 is re-entered.

Voltage Bit

Referring now to FIG. 9B, if neither the pressure bit nor thetemperature bit has been set, step 358 tests the voltage bit todetermine whether or not it is set. If the voltage bit is set, step 360copies the current counter value into the battery register 308 of FIG.8. The analog-to-digital routine and the first microcontroller thus actas assigning means for assigning a code to the instantaneous value ofthe battery signal, the code being the current counter value. Step 362then re-configures RB1 to be an output and sets it to zero. Step 364then increments the contents of the counter register twice and programflow continues at point A and the loop 330 is re-entered.

Reference Bit

If neither the pressure bit, the temperature bit nor the voltage bithave been set, the program continues at step 366 which tests whether ornot the reference bit is set. If the reference bit has not been set thenstep 368 increments the contents of the counter register twice. Programflow then continues at point "A" and loop 330 of FIG. 9A is re-entered.If the reference bit has been set, then the ramp voltage has attainedits highest level and the analog-to-digital conversion process has beencompleted. Step 369 then copies the current contents of the counterregister into the reference register 310 of FIG. 8. Theanalog-to-digital routine and the first microcontroller thus act asassigning means for assigning a code to the instantaneous value of theramp signal, the code being the current counter value. Step 370 thenwrites a binary "0" to RA2 which has the effect of disabling the rampgenerator 110 of FIG. 5. Step 372 then writes a binary "0" to RA0 whichdisables power to the comparators. The A/D routine of the main algorithmis thus completed and program flow continues as indicated in FIG. 6 withthe unit conversion routine 206. It will be appreciated that the A/Droutine and the microcontroller act as loading means for loading aninstantaneous count value from the counter register in a parameterregister corresponding to whichever input signal has a voltage less thanthe ramp voltage. It will also be appreciated that the A/D routine andthe microcontroller act as repeating means for repeating the steps ofcomparing and loading until the ramp voltage is greater than the voltageof each of the input signals.

Result of A/D Conversion

Referring to FIG. 8, it will be appreciated that upon termination of theanalog-to-digital conversion algorithm, the temperature register 304,the pressure register 306, the battery register 308 contain countervalues which represent corresponding fractions of full scale valuesmeasured. These fractional values are scaled by the unit conversionroutine 206, shown in FIG. 10, to convert the fractional values intovalues having pressure, temperature or voltage units.

Unit Conversion Routine

Referring to FIG. 10, the unit conversion routine is shown in greaterdetail at 206. The unit conversion routine employs a linear equation ofthe form

    y=mx+b

Where

y=a given operating parameter expressed in pressure, temperature orvoltage units. Respective pressure, temperature or voltage units arestored in the pressure, temperature and battery registers respectivelyupon completion of the unit conversion routine;

m=a constant expressed in units per count of the A/D counter register302;

x=the count value of the operating parameter held in the temperature,pressure, or battery register after A/D routine is completed; and

bcc=an offset value for the respective parameter.

The value m is equal to the relation

    (s)(Tcc)/(Rc)

Where

s=a scaling factor for the temperature, pressure or battery voltagebeing measured, for example in the case of temperature, (s) isrepresents a scaling factor having units of degrees Celsius per countunit;

Rc=the counter value stored in the reference in Register 310 when thereference bit was detected as set during the analog-to-digitalconversion process; and

Tcc=a constant representing the total count value expected for apre-determined reference voltage of 2.5 volts, when the circuit isoperating in ambient air having a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

The ratio (Tcc/Rc) will ideally be equal to 1, however if temperatureaffects the voltage ramp generator circuit 110, the value Rc may bedifferent than the value Tcc as the ramp voltage may be affected bytemperature. Consequently, the value (Tcc/Rc) is a scaling factor whichpermits the slope value (s) to be scaled up or down to compensate forirregularities in the ramp voltage such as may be caused by temperaturevariations. It will be appreciated that as the (Rc) values in the aboveequations are determined at the time of actually performing theanalog-to-digital conversion, only the values (s)*(Tcc) andcorresponding offset values bcc need be pre-defined.

Storage of Parameter Values

Referring to FIG. 11, the values (s)(Tcc) and (bcc) for use intemperature calculations are stored in temperature scale and offsetregisters 378 and 380. Similarly, the values (s)(Tcc) and (bcc) for usein pressure and battery voltage calculations are stored in pressure andbattery offset and scale registers 382, 384, 386, and 388 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 10, the unit conversion routine 206 includes atemperature conversion step 390 which retrieves the contents of thetemperature scale register 378, substitutes it in the equation y=mx+busing temperature offset and scale values from registers 378 and 380 ofFIG. 11 and stores the result in the temperature register 304 of FIG. 8.The temperature value or code acquired during the A/D algorithm is thusreplaced with a temperature value expressed in degrees Celsius. Ineffect therefore, the code acquired from the A/D algorithm isrepresented by another code expressing the same value in meaningfultemperature units.

Referring back to FIG. 10, the unit conversion routine 206 then performssubsequent steps 392 and 394 which substitute the pressure and batteryvoltage values acquired during the A/D algorithm into the y=mx+bequation and which store resulting pressure and voltage values in thepressure and battery registers 306 and 308 of FIG. 8, with pressure andbattery voltage values expressed in pounds per square inch and voltsrespectively. Thus, the codes for these values acquired from the A/Dalgorithm are represented by related codes which express the same valuesin meaningful pressure and voltage units respectively.

Comparison Routine

Referring back to FIG. 6, upon completion of the unit conversion routineoccurring every 2.5 to 20 seconds, the comparison routine 208 isexecuted. The comparison routine is shown in greater detail at 208 inFIG. 12.

Registers Used by Comparison Routine

Referring to FIG. 13, the RAM 160 of FIG. 4 includes an earliertemperature register 396 for storing an earlier acquired temperaturevalue; an earlier pressure register 398 for storing an earlier acquiredpressure value; and an earlier voltage register 400 for storing anearlier acquired voltage value. The RAM also includes a one bit batterycondition register 414, the bit being set to one when the batteryvoltage is below an acceptable limit and the bit being set to zero whenthe battery voltage is within acceptable limits. The RAM furtherincludes a big pressure change flag register 409 and a big temperaturechange flag register 411. The big pressure change flag register is forstoring a flag bit indicative of whether or not the rate of change ofpressure per unit time is greater than a pre-defined value, and the bigtemperature change flag register is for storing a flag bit indicative ofwhether or not the rate of change of temperature per unit time isgreater that a pre-defined value.

Referring to FIG. 14 the ROM 158 of FIG. 5 has a dp/dt limit register405, a dT/dt limit register 406, a temperature difference register 408,a pressure difference register 410 and a battery voltage differenceregister 412. The dp/dt limit register 405 holds a value representing amaximum allowable rate of change of pressure with respect to time. ThedT/dt limit register 406 holds a value representing a maximum allowablerate of change of temperature with respect to time. The temperaturedifference register 408 contains a value corresponding to the allowabledifference between an earlier acquired temperature value and a lateracquired temperature value. Similarly, the pressure difference register410 contains a maximum allowable pressure difference value. The batteryvoltage difference register 412 contains a value corresponding to theminimum allowable battery voltage.

Steps of Comparison Routine

The comparison routine 208 has a first step 418 which compares theabsolute value of the difference between the temperature value stored inregister 304 of FIG. 8 and the temperature value stored in register 396of FIG. 13. This difference is compared to the contents of thetemperature limit register 408. If the absolute value of the differenceis less than the temperature limit value, program flow continues withstep 420 which performs a similar comparison on pressure values.

Step 420 calculates the absolute value of the difference between thecontents of the pressure register 306 of FIG. 6 and the contents of thepressure register 398 of FIG. 13. This pressure difference is comparedto the pressure limit value stored in the register 410 of FIG. 13. Ifthe absolute value of the difference in pressure is less than thepressure limit value, program flow continues with step 423 which setsthe contents of the first interrupt limit register 403 of FIG. 7 tocorrespond to twenty seconds. Thus, the first interrupt limit isrestored to twenty seconds or is maintained at twenty seconds whilepressure and temperature values, and hence temperature and pressuredifferences are within the limits specified by the contents of thetemperature and pressure limit registers 408 and 410 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 12, if the result of the temperature comparison instep 418 indicates that the allowable temperature limit change has beenexceeded, the first interrupt limit register 403 of FIG. 7 is loadedwith the value 1 to cause the analog-to-digital conversion 204, the unitconversion 206 and the comparison routine 208 of FIG. 6 to be executedupon receipt of each interrupt from the timer circuit. This has theeffect of increasing the rate of sampling the temperature, pressure andbattery parameters.

Similarly, if the result of the pressure comparison indicated in step420 indicates that the change in pressure is greater than the allowablelimit, the first interrupt limit register is loaded with a "1" to causesampling to occur upon the occurrence of each interrupt from the clocktimer circuit. The sampling rate is thus increased if either thetemperature or pressure value presently acquired has changed from thetemperature or pressure value earlier acquired by more than an allowablelimit. The comparison routine thus acts as testing means for testing thesignals to determine whether they meet a first or second set ofconditions and for sampling the signals at a first rate when one of thesignals meets the first set of conditions and for sampling the signalsat a second rate when the signals meet the second set of conditions, thefirst set of conditions being met when any of the signals has notchanged by more than a pre-defined limit and the second set ofconditions being met when any of the signals has changed by more thanthe pre-defined limit. The comparison routine also acts as comparingmeans for comparing a later acquired value with an earlier acquiredvalue and wherein the first set of conditions are met when the lateracquired value is within a pre-defined range of the earlier acquiredvalue and wherein the second set of conditions are met when the lateracquired value is outside of a pre-defined range of the earlier acquiredvalue.

Referring to steps 429 and 422, if the change in temperature per unittime is greater than the dT/dt limit stored in register 406, a bigtemperature change flag is set as indicated at 428 by storing a flagvalue in the big temperature change register 411 of FIG. 13.

Similarly, if the pressure change per unit time is greater than thedp/dt limit stored in register 405 of FIG. 14, a big pressure changeflag is set as indicated at 427. The big pressure change flag is set bywriting a flag value into register 409 of FIG. 13. If either the bigtemperature flag or the big pressure change flag has been set, the fasttransmit count register 407 of FIG. 13 is loaded (425 of FIG. 12) withthe value 2 which causes step 201 of FIG. 6 to cause transmission ofparameter information to occur three successive times at 2.5 secondintervals. In addition, the sampling and analog-to-digital conversionprocess is performed at 2.5 second intervals. The comparison routinethus acts as determining means for determining a rate of change of thesignals and the first set of conditions are met when the rate of changeof any of the signals is within a pre-defined range of a pre-definedrate of change and the second set of conditions are met when the rate ofchange of any of the signals is outside of a pre-defined range of apre-defined rate of change. Clearly, the first sampling rate is lessthan the second sampling rate as the first sampling rate isapproximately 20 seconds and the second sampling rate is approximately2.5 seconds.

If either the rate of pressure change per unit time, or the rate oftemperature change per unit time comparison undertaken in steps 422 and429 respectively is negative, the battery voltage is tested at step 424.Step 424 reads the contents of the battery register 308 of FIG. 8 andcompares such contents with the contents of the battery limit register412 of FIG. 14. If the contents of the battery register 308 of FIG. 8are less than the contents of battery limit register 412 of FIG. 14, thecomparison routine is exited and program flow continues with the samplesave routine 210 of FIG. 6. If, however, the battery register contents308 of FIG. 8 are less than the battery limit value 412 of FIG. 14, thebattery condition flag is set to active as indicated at 426 in FIG. 12.Step 426 sets the battery condition bit 414 of FIG. 13 to active. Uponsetting the battery bit, the comparison routine is completed and programflow continues with the sample save routine 210 of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 12, it may be seen that under normal condition,sampling of parameter values occurs every twenty seconds andtransmission of parameter values occurs once every ten minutes. Thus, itmay be said that the transmitting means transmits the later acquiredcode at first regular intervals of time, these intervals being tenminutes in duration. In the event that a temperature or pressure changesmore than predetermined limits, the sampling rate is increased to onesample every 2.5 seconds. The occurrence of the transmissions remainsthe same at ten minute intervals.

In the event that pressure or temperature changes per unit time aregreater than predetermined limits, the sampling frequency is increasedto once every 2.5 seconds and the frequency of transmission is increasedto once every 2.5 seconds for three successive transmissions. In thisway, the tire unit monitors the operating parameters of the tire bytaking samples of the parameters at specified intervals. These specifiedintervals are shortened in the event of an anomaly being found in one ofthe parameters and the occurrence of transmissions from the tire unit isincreased only upon an anomaly in the parameters indicating a rapidchange in such parameters. The comparison routine thus acts as testingmeans for testing the signal to determine whether or not the signalmeets a first or second set of conditions and for transmitting at firstregular intervals of time when any of the signals meets the first set ofconditions and for transmitting at second regular intervals of time whenany of the signals meets the second set of conditions. The comparisonroutine also acts as comparing means for comparing a later acquired codewith an earlier acquired code, the first set of conditions being metwhen the later acquired code is within a pre-defined range of theearlier acquired code and, the second set of conditions being met whenthe later acquired code is outside of a pre-defined range of the earlieracquired code.

The comparison routine also acts as determining means for determining arate of change of a signal, the first set of conditions being met whenthe rate of change of the signal is within a pre-defined range of apre-defined rate of change and the second set of conditions being metwhen the rate of change of the signal is outside of a pre-defined rangeof a pre-defined rate of change. Clearly in the embodiment shown, thefirst regular intervals of time are longer than the second regularintervals of time as the first regular intervals of time are 10 minutesin duration and the second regular intervals of time are 2.5 seconds.

Sample Save Routine

Referring to FIG. 15, the sample save routine 210 is shown in greaterdetail. Step 428 of the sample save routine simply loads the contents oftemperature register 304 of FIG. 8 into temperature register 396 of FIG.12. Similarly, referring back to FIG. 15, steps 430 and 432 load thecontents of pressure register 306 and the contents of battery register308, both shown in FIG. 8, into the pressure and battery registers 398and 400 respectively, shown in FIG. 13. The sample save routine is thuscompleted and program flow continues by resetting the first and secondinterrupt counters 401 and 402 to zero and performing the transmitroutine 212.

Transmit Routine

The purpose of the transmit routine 212 is to send the values stored intemperature register 304, pressure register 306 and battery register 308shown in FIG. 8, to the cab unit 42 of FIG. 1. To achieve this end, thetransmit routine formats the data held in the temperature, pressure andbattery registers 304, 306 and 308 together with unit functioninformation, unit identification information, unit type information, andtire number information in a form detectable by the receiver and causesthis information to appear in a transmission sent from the transmittercircuitry 86 to the cab unit.

Registers Used by Transmit Routine

Referring to FIG. 16, the ROM 158 of FIG. 5 includes a unit functionregister 434, upper and lower ID registers 436 and 438, a unit typeregister 440 and a tire number register 442 which contain pre-definedvalues which are transmitted each time a transmission is sent to the cabunit.

Unit Function Register

The unit function register 434 stores a five-bit code representing anindication of the functional qualities of the tire unit 44. In thisembodiment, the code 00000 has been used to indicate that the unitmeasures pressure and temperature. Such a device may be used onconventional mining truck tires. In an alternative embodiment a unitfunction code of 00001 may be used to identify a unit measuring otherthan tire operating parameters such as vehicle weight.

Unit ID Registers

The lower unit ID register 436 holds eight bits, whereas the upper unitID register 438 holds two bits. The lower and upper unit ID registers436 and 438 thus provide ten bits for identifying a total of 1024different units. Thus trailers having wheels with tire units thereon maybe connected to the tractor and these tire units may also transmit tothe same cab unit. All of the tire units 44 mounted on a given tractoror trailer would have the same unit ID number. Thus 1023 differenttrailers can be connected to the tractor unit and be uniquelyidentified.

Unit Type Register

The unit type register 440 holds a one bit value for identifying thespecific unit type. In this embodiment, the code 0 is used to indicatethat the unit is a tractor and the code 1 is used to indicate that theunit is a trailer.

Tire Number Register

The tire number register 442 holds a five bit value for identifying aspecific tire on the tractor or trailer unit on which the tire unit 44is installed. Five bits have been used for this purpose and thereforethirty-two different tires on a single tractor or trailer unit may beidentified. The contents of the tire number register in combination withthe contents of the unit ID register act as identification means forindentifying the tire unit from which a transmission is being received.

The tire unit has a label (not shown) on which is printed the unitfunction, unit ID, unit type and tire number programmed into the aboveregisters. The user installs the tire unit on a wheel of a tractor ortrailer corresponding to the tire number printed on the label.

Initialization of Transmitter

Referring now to FIG. 17, the transmit routine 212 is explained ingreater detail. The transmit routine includes step 444 which writes abinary "1" to RB5 of FIG. 5 which connects the RF ground signal line 149via MOSFET 147 to a signal ground of the overall circuit and therebyprovides a ground path for the transmitter. The transmitter is therebyenabled.

The remaining steps of the transmit routine relate to data appearing inserial format on RF modulation signal line 445. The data appears indigital format at 1200 baud at pin RA3 of port A, providing the RFMODsignal.

Transmit Protocol

Referring to FIG. 18, the transmit protocol produced by the transmitroutine 212 of FIG. 17 is illustrated generally at 476.

Starting Sequence

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, step 446 produces a sequence of eightbinary zeros which will be referred to as a zero byte 478. Step 448 thenproduces a three bit code as a re-synchronization sequence comprisingthe bits 010 and the transmit protocol thus includes a first 010re-synchronizer sequence 480. The first re-synchronization sequence actsas a re-synchronizer at the receiver and permits re-synchronization ofthe receiver during transmission of data from the transmitter to thereceiver.

Information Bytes

Referring to FIGS. 13, 16, 17 and 18, step 450 causes the contents ofthe unit function register 434 of FIG. 16 to be included and thetransmit protocol thus includes a five-bit unit function code 482. Step449 inserts the contents of the big pressure change register 409 intothe transmit protocol as indicated at 481. Similarly, step 451 insertsthe contents of the big temperature change register 410 into thetransmit protocol as indicated at 483. Step 452 then inserts thecontents of the battery condition register 414 of FIG. 13 into thetransmit protocol. The protocol thus includes a battery condition bit484.

Next, step 453 produces a second 010 re-synchronizer sequence. Thetransmit protocol 476 thus includes a second re-synchronizer sequence486. Step 454 then produces the contents of the first unit ID register436 and the transmit protocol 476 thus includes a unit ID leastsignificant byte 488.

Step 456 then produces a third 010 re-synchronizer sequence at pin RA3and the transmit protocol 476 thus includes a third 010 re-synchronizersequence 490. Step 458 produces the contents of the second unit IDregister 438 and the transmit protocol 476 thus includes high order IDbits 492.

Step 460 then produces the contents of the unit type register 440 andthe transmit protocol 476 thus includes one unit type bit 494. Step 462then produces the contents of the tire number register 442 and thetransmit protocol 476 thus includes five tire number bits 496.

Next, step 464 produces a fourth 010 re-synchronizer sequence at pin RA3and the transmit protocol 476 thus includes a fourth 010 re-synchronizersequence 498. Step 466 produces the contents of the pressure register306 of FIG. 8 and the transmit protocol 476 thus includes a pressurebyte 500.

Next, step 468 produces a fifth 010 re-synchronizer sequence at pin RA3and the transmit protocol 476 thus includes a fifth 010 re-synchronizersequence 502. Step 470 produces the contents of the temperature register304 of FIG. 8 and the transmit protocol 476 thus includes a temperaturebyte 504.

Next, step 472 produces a sixth 010 re-synchronizer sequence and thetransmit protocol 476 thus includes a sixth 010 re-synchronizer sequence506. Step 474 then produces a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) byte and thetransmit protocol thus includes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) byte508. It will be appreciated that the cyclic redundancy check iscalculated using conventional methods.

Finally, step 475, writes a binary "0" to RBS of FIG. 5 whichdisconnects the RF ground signal line 149 and thereby disables thetransmitter.

Referring back to FIG. 18, the transmit protocol is divided into sixpackets of data 660, 662, 664, 666, 668, 670. The first packet 660includes 8 bits including the two-bit function code 482, the bigpressure change bit 481, the big temperature change bit 483 and thebattery condition bit 484. The second packet 662 includes 8 bitsincluding the sensor ID least significant byte 488. The third packet 664includes 8 bits including the most significant two bit ID bits 492, theone unit type bit 494 and the five-bit tire number 496. The fourthpacket 666 includes 8 bits which include the pressure byte 500, thefifth packet 668 includes 8 bits which include the temperature byte 504and the sixth packet 670 includes 8 bits including the CRC byte 508.Each of the packets is separated by a "010" re-synchronizer sequence.

Re-Entry Into Low Power Mode

After the cyclic redundancy check byte has been produced by step 474,the transmit routine 212 is completed and program flow continues in FIG.6 at step 209 wherein the first microcontroller is placed into the lowpower mode.

Transmitter Circuit

Referring to FIG. 19, the transmitter circuit is shown generally at 510.The transmitter is connected to pin RA3 of the first microcontroller bythe RF modulation signal line 445, and is connected to pin RB5 of themicrocontroller 114 by the RF ground signal line 149 controlled by theRB5 output of the first microcontroller 114.

The transmitter circuit 510 is a conventional frequency shift keyedtransmitter circuit which produces a carrier signal having a carrierfrequency of 49.83 MHz and a bandwidth of approximately 10 kHz and apower output of 100 milliwatts.

The transmitter circuit includes an FSK circuit 512 having a signaloutput 514 with an analog output voltage which increases or decreasesdepending upon whether the RF modulation signal 445 is high or low.

The transmitter circuit also includes a carrier generator 516 having anoutput 518 for producing the carrier signal described above.

The transmitter further includes a carrier modulation circuit 520 whichmodulates the carrier appearing on output 518 with the voltage on signalline 514 produced by the FSK circuit 512. The carrier modulation circuithas an output 522 which produces an FSK modulated signal having a higherfrequency when the RF modulation signal 445 is at a high level and whichhas a lower frequency when the RF modulation signal is at a low level.The FSK modulated signal on output 522 is supplied to an amplifier 524which amplifies the signal and supplies an amplified version thereof tothe antenna 88. It will be appreciated that antenna 88 is impedancematched to amplifier 524 to effect signal transfer with minimal loss.

It will be appreciated that the output of the transmitter is a frequencyshift keyed electromagnetic signal 528. The signal 528 is transmittedaccording to the transmit protocol and is transmitted at approximately1200 baud which results in a bit time of approximately 0.833 mSec. Asthe signal 528 is transmitted according to the transmit protocol and asthe transmit protocol includes the pressure byte, the temperature byteand an identification of the transmitter, the pressure byte, thetemperature byte and the identification of the transmitter are thustransmitted for reception by a receiver.

Receiver

Referring back to FIG. 1, the receiver is mounted inside the cab portionof the tractor and thus is mounted at a central location.

Antenna/Amplifier

Referring to FIG. 20, the receiver is shown generally at 600 andincludes an antenna 602, an amplifier 604, and an FM receiver circuitshown generally at 606. The antenna 602 includes a conventional whipantenna mounted on top of the cab of the tractor. The antenna mayalternatively be mounted on the front bumper of the tractor or under aframe portion of the cab of the tractor.

The antenna 602 receives the FSK modulated electromagnetic signalsproduced by each of the transmitters and produces low-level signals inresponse thereto. The antenna is connected to the amplifier 604 throughan impedance matching network (not shown). The low level signals arethus supplied to the amplifier 604 which amplifies them to a level whichcan be detected by the FM receiver circuit 606.

FM Receiver Circuit

The FM receiver circuit includes an FM demodulator circuit 608 and areference level adjustor circuit 610. In the preferred embodiment, theFM demodulator circuit includes a Motorola MC3362 low-power dualconversion FM receiver, available from Motorola SemiconductorCorporation of Arizona. The FM demodulator circuit has a mixer input612, a comparator input 614, a comparator output 616 and a detectoroutput 618. The mixer input 612 receives the signal produced by theamplifier 604 and produces an analog signal corresponding to the FSKmodulated electromagnetic signal, the analog signal being produced atthe detector output 618.

The FM demodulator circuit is connected to peripheral componentsincluding resistors, capacitors and crystals, the selection of whichwould be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art, to tune the circuitto receive FSK signals having a carrier frequency of 49.830 MHz and abandwidth of 10 kHz, (i.e. the same carrier frequency and bandwidth ofthe signals produced by the transmitters).

When the carrier frequency of the transmitted signal is identical to thetuned carrier frequency of the FM demodulator circuit the analog signalproduced at the detector output has a DC component determined by theratio of binary "1"s to binary "0"s in the transmit protocol.

While the demodulator circuit is tuned to the expected carrier frequencyof the transmitters, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill inthe art that temperature and component drift effects may cause thecarrier frequency of individual transmitters to differ slightly from theexpected carrier frequency. Any difference in actual carrier frequencyof a transmitted signal from that of the tuned carrier frequency of thereceiver will appear as a DC component in the analog signal produced atthe detector output. With a plurality of transmitters in operation, theDC component dynamically changes. Thus the demodulator circuit acts asproducing means for producing an analog signal in response to thereceived transmission, the analog signal having a DC component.

Normally, the analog signal is fed into an internal comparator (notshown) in the MC3362 which produces a digital output signal atcomparator output 616. However, due to the dynamically changing DCcomponent appearing in the analog signal, the analog signal may appearto have a higher or lower voltage level than would otherwise be presentin the absence of the DC component. This can have the effect of causingthe internal comparator to switch prematurely resulting in erroneousdata appearing at the comparator output 616. Premature switching of theinternal comparator however, is reduced by connection of the referencelevel adjustor circuit 610 between the detector output 618 and thecomparator input 614.

Reference Level Adjustment

The reference level adjustor circuit 610 is shown in greater detail inFIG. 21. The circuit includes a voltage follower shown generally at 617and an external comparator shown generally at 619. The voltage followeris conventional and has an output 620 which produces a buffered analogsignal. The external comparator includes first and second lowpass filtercircuits shown generally at 622 and 624. The first filter circuit 622includes resistor R1 and capacitor C2. The second filter circuit 624includes the series combination of resistors R1+R2 and capacitor C2. Thefirst filter circuit has a time constant approximately equal to 1/10 ofa bit time of a transmitted bit (e.g. approx 0.083 sec) The secondfilter circuit has a time constant at least equal to one byte time.

The buffered analog signal is supplied to both filters, however theoutput of the first filter is supplied to a reference input 626 of theexternal comparator 619 and the output of the second filter circuit issupplied to a comparing input 628 of the comparator 618.

The effect of the circuit is to employ the first filter circuit 622 tofilter out the DC component of the analog signal and use it as areference voltage to which the actual analog signal is compared. Thusthe effect of the DC component is virtually eliminated and the externalcomparator 619 produces a preliminary digital output signal on an output630 of the external comparator, the preliminary digital signal havingdigital signal transitions due to modulation of the analog signal only.The first filter circuit 622 thus acts as first attenuating means forattenuating high frequency components of the analog signal to produce afiltered analog signal, the high frequency components having frequenciesmore than ten times the baud rate of the received transmission and thesecond filter circuit 624 acts as second attenuating means forattenuating the filtered analog signal to produce a reference signalproportional to the DC component. In addition the external comparatoracts as a comparator which is switched in response to the filteredanalog signal to produce a digital signal, the comparator using thereference signal as a switching reference.

Referring back to FIG. 20, the preliminary digital signal is supplied tothe internal comparator of the MC3362 on comparator input 614 whichpermits a "clean" digital signal to be produced at the comparator output616.

The receiver circuit 600 further includes a subcontroller 632, anignition key interface 644, a keyboard/display unit 643, a power controlcircuit 650, a parallel port 654 and a second microcontroller 658.

Subcontroller

The subcontroller 632 is a single chip microcontroller having on boardROM, RAM, a timer circuit, and programmable I/O ports. The status ofinput ports is determined by reading an input status register (notshown) for the port. Outputs are controlled by writing to an outputcontrol port (not shown). The status of an output pin may be determinedby reading the output control port.

Subcontroller--Physical Connections

The subcontroller 632 has a first input 634, a second input 636, a thirdinput 637, a first- output 638, a second output 640, a third output 642and a plurality of handshaking lines 643 including a clock line, a resetline, an NMI line and a permission line.

The first input 634 receives the digital signal from comparator output616.

The second input 636 is connected to the ignition key interface circuit644 which has an output 646 which provides an ignition key signal to thesecond input 636. The ignition key signal has two voltage levelsindicating that the ignition key is on and off respectively.

The third input 637 is connected to an on/off switch 639 on a keyboardportion 641 of the keyboard/display unit 643. The third input receives akeyboard on/off signal from the on/off switch 639, the on/off switchbeing operable independently of the remainder of the keyboard portion.The keyboard on/off signal has a high or low voltage level depending onwhether the keyboard on/off switch is on or off respectively.

The first output 638 is connected to an input 648 of the power controlcircuit 650 which enables or disables power to each of the componentsshown in FIG. 20.

The second output 640 includes a single data line which is connected toan input 652 of the parallel port 654.

The third output 642 is connected to an interrupt input 656 of thesecond microcontroller 658.

The handshaking lines 637 are connected to the second microcontroller658 and control the second microcontroller to render it ready to receivedata from the subcontroller 632, to reset the second microcontrollerupon power-up, and to enable the subcontroller to receive a permissionsignal from the second microcontroller indicating that the secondmicrocontroller is ready to be put into a low power mode.

Subcontroller Monitoring Program

Generally, power is supplied to the subcontroller 632 at all times andpower to the remaining portions of the circuit is controlled by thesubcontroller through the power control circuit 650. When the tractor isparked and the engine is shut off, the subcontroller will place allother components into a low power mode wherein only the subcontroller isexecuting a program and wherein all other portions of the circuit arefunctionally inactivated. During this time, the subcontroller executes amain algorithm shown generally in FIG. 22 at 800.

Referring to FIG. 22, the main algorithm 800 includes an accessorychecking routine 802, a data carrier testing routine 804, a datareceiving routine 806, a second microcontroller activation routine 808and an upload routine 810.

It will be appreciated that the program run by the subcontroller isprogrammed into the internal ROM of the subcontroller and that alltemporary storage registers which are accessed by the program arelocated in the internal RAM of the subcontroller.

Accessory Checking Routine 802

The accessory checking routine is shown generally at 802 in FIG. 23.Referring to FIGS. 20 and 23, the routine begins by checking 803 input636 of FIG. 20 to determine the state of the ignition key interfacesignal produced by the ignition key interface 644 on output 646. Theroutine then reads the state of the first output 638. As the firstoutput 638 is controlled by the subcontroller, the subcontroller merelyreads the output control port (not shown) to determine the state of theoutput.

If the ignition interface signal indicates that the ignition switch isoff and the first output 638 is inactive 805 indicating that the secondmicrocontroller is off, third input 637 is sampled to determine whetheror not the on/off key 639 on the keyboard has been pressed as indicatedat step 807. If pressed, the second microcontroller is turned on 809 bysetting the output 638 active. A timer code is uploaded 801 to thesecond microcontroller which renders it operational for a period of timewhich in this embodiment is 5 minutes. This enables a truck operator toturn the device on and enter selected parameters to be described lateror to observe the display while the tractor is turned off. If the on/offkey 639 is not pressed, the accessory checking routine is exited 811 andprocessing proceeds with step 804 of FIG. 22.

If the accessory interface signal at input 636 is inactive and thesecond microcontroller is on, the permission handshaking line is tested813 to determine whether or not it is active indicating that the secondmicrocontroller is signalling that it has finished its processing (to bedescribed later) and can now be turned off 815 by the subcontroller. Toturn the second microcontroller off 815, the subcontroller sets theoutput 638 inactive thereby disabling power to the secondmicrocontroller and reducing power consumption. If the permissionhandshaking line is not active, the second microcontroller is not readyto be shut off and the accessory checking routine is exited 817 andprocessing proceeds with step 804 of FIG. 22.

If the accessory interface signal at input 636 indicates that theignition key is on, and the second microcontroller is off 819, thesecond microcontroller is turned on 823 by setting the output 638active. If the accessory interface signal indicates that the ignitionswitch is on 803 and if the second microcontroller is on 819, theaccessory routine is exited 825 and processing proceeds with step 804 ofFIG. 22.

Data Carrier Testing Routine 804

At any time the accessory routine is exited, the main program proceedswith step 804 of FIG. 22, which samples the input 634 to determinewhether or not a valid carrier signal is being received by thedemodulator circuit. The presence of a valid carrier is assumed when asequence of eight zeros is received. If no valid carrier is beingreceived, it is assumed that none of the transmitters is transmittingand the main program continues processing back at the accessory checkingroutine 802. If a valid carrier is being received, the main programproceeds with the data receiving routine 806.

Zero Sequence Detector Subroutine 699

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 24, the data carrier testing routine includesa zero sequence detector subroutine which is shown generally at 699. Theroutine begins by directing the subcontroller to reset 700 a zerocounter register for counting successive occurrences of O's in thereceived transmission. The routine then monitors the first input 634 bysampling 702 the first input 634 and testing 704 to determine whether ornot the input is low or high. If the input is high, program flow againproceeds with the accessory checking routine 802 of FIG. 20. Referringback to FIG. 22, if the input is low the zero counter register isincremented 706 to record the occurrence of the low value. The countercontents are then tested 707 to determine whether or not "n" successivelow values have been recorded. In this embodiment "n" is equal to 40 butit will be appreciated that n is programmable and can be any number. Thevalue 40 has been chosen for n because this represents a minimum numberof low values which can be recorded, during the time taken for the0-byte 478 of the transmit protocol of FIG. 18 to be transmitted, andfor which it can reasonably be assumed that the 0 byte is beingreceived. If the input is not low for 40 counts of the zero counter,program flow continues by returning to the accessory checking routine802. If the input is low for 40 counts of the zero counter register, itis assumed that the zero-byte of the transmit protocol has been receivedand that a valid carrier is being detected. Program flow continues withfurther sampling 708 of the input until a high level is detected 710,signifying the occurrence of the leading edge of the "1" in the 010sequence flow then continues with the data receiving routine 806 of FIG.22.

Data Receiving Routine 806

The data receiving routine 806 includes a 010 sequence handlingsubroutine shown generally at 712 in FIG. 25, and a data handlingsubroutine shown generally at 738 in FIG. 26A.

010 Sequence Handling Subroutine 712

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 25 the 010 sequence handling routine begins byinitializing a sample counter register, initializing 714 a levelregister and initializing a sequence occurrence counter registerexisting in RAM. The sample counter register will contain a valuerepresenting the number of count loop sequences executed that is, thenumber of samples taken of the "1" in the 010 sequence. The levelregister will contain a value representing the voltage level appearingat the first input 634 of FIG. 20. The sequence occurrence counterregister will contain a value representing the number of 010 sequencesreceived.

After initialization of the above registers, the routine increments 715the sequence occurrence register and then increments the sample counterregister and samples the input 634 of FIG. 20 as indicated at 716. Thecontents of the sample counter register are then tested 718 to determinewhether or not the count value corresponds to a 40% bit time position.If so, the voltage level of the sample is stored 720 in the levelregister and the program continues at step 716 by incrementing thecounter register and again sampling the input 634 of FIG. 20. If not,then the contents of the sample counter register are tested 722 todetermine whether the count value corresponds to a 50% bit timeposition.

If the counter value corresponds to the 50% bit time position, thevoltage level of the sample is ANDed 724 with the contents of the levelregister and the result is stored in the level register. If the resultof the AND function is zero, the routine is aborted 726 and program flowcontinues back at the accessory checking routine 802 of FIG. 22.

Referring back to FIG. 25, if the result of the AND function is one thenthe program continues execution at step 716 by again incrementing thecounter register and taking a sample of the input. If the counter valueis not equal to the 50% bit time position, the counter register contentsare tested 728 to determine whether the sample corresponds to the 60%bit position.

The above process of testing the level of the sample as described forthe 50% bit position is repeated for the 60% bit position as indicatedgenerally at 730. If the counter value is not equal to the 60% bit timeposition, the level register is checked 732 to determine whether thesample level has returned to zero signifying the occurrence of thefalling edge of the "1" in the 010 sequence. If the sample level has notreturned to zero, it is assumed that the "1" bit of the sequence isstill present and sampling and counting continues at step 716 until theinput voltage level has returned to zero as indicated at 732.

When the input voltage level has returned to zero, the contents of thesample counter register are checked 734 to determine whether or not thesample register contents are within a pre-defined range representing anexpected sample register contents range corresponding to the duration ofone bit time. If the sample contents are out of the pre-determinedrange, the process is aborted and the program resumes operation at theaccessory checking routine 802 in FIG. 22.

Referring back to FIG. 25, if the sample counter register contents arewithin the pre-defined range, the sample counter register contents aredivided by two 736 which has the effect of setting the sample counterregister contents to a value corresponding to the mid-bit position ofthe "1" in the 010 sequence. The receiver is thus re-synchronized to themid bit position of the "1" in the 010 re-synchronizer of thetransmission. The data handling routine is then entered to receive andstore individual bits of the incoming data.

Data Handling Subroutine 738

Referring to FIG. 26A, the data handling routine is shown in detail at738. The data handling routine begins by incrementing 740 the contentsof the sample counter register and then testing 742 the contents of thesample counter register to determine whether or not the sample registercontents corresponds to a predetermined value representing a 11/2 bittime position. If the sample register contents are not equal to the 11/2bit time value, the program continues by returning to the step ofincrementing the sample counter register 740.

If the sample counter register contents do represent the 11/2 bit timeposition, the sample counter register is reset to zero as indicated at744, to signify the leading edge of the first bit of data. The samplecounter register contents are then incremented as indicated at 746. Thecontents of the sample counter register are then tested 748 to determinewhether or not the sample contents are equal to a value representing a30% bit time position. If so, the program samples and stores the inputvoltage level in the level register as indicated at 750. Program flow isthen directed back to the step of incrementing the sample counterregister as indicated at 746.

If the sample register contents are not equal to the 30% bit position,the contents are tested to determine whether they correspond to a 50%bit time position as indicated at 752. If so, then a sample of the input634 is taken 753 and the sample value is compared 757 to the samplevalue previously acquired at the 30% bit time position. If the 50%sample value is equal to the 30% sample value, program flow returns tothe step of incrementing the sample counter register contents. If the50% sample value is not equal to the 30% bit time sample value, theroutine is aborted and program flow continues at step 802, the accessorychecking routine of FIG. 20.

Referring back to FIG. 26A, if the sample value is not equal to the 50%bit time position value, the contents of the sample counter register aretested to determine whether the sample counter register contents areequal to a value corresponding to a 70% bit time position as indicatedat 756.

If the contents of the sample counter register are not equal to the 70%bit time value, program flow is directed back to the step ofincrementing the sample counter register 746. If the contents of thesample counter register are equal to the 70% bit time value, a sample istaken 759 and the value of the sample is compared to the 30% bit timevalue as indicated at 758. If the 70% bit time value is not equal to the30% bit time value, the routine is aborted and program flow continues atthe accessory checking routine, step 802 of FIG. 20.

Referring back to FIG. 26A, if the 70% value is equal to the 30% value,the 30% value is assumed to be the value of the bit and the value isstored 760 in a bit storage register corresponding to the bit positionof the bit currently received as shown in FIG. 26B. There is a separatebit storage register for each bit in each packet of data.

Referring to FIG. 27, the bit storage registers form part of a firstgroup of receiver parameter registers which are arranged into three16-bit registers identified as bat 774, codes 776, and presstemp 778.

Bits 0-7 of the bat register are unused. Bit 8 is the battery conditionbit, bits 9 and 10 are the big temperature and big pressure change bits,and bits 11-15 represent the five-bit function code. Bits 0-7 of thecodes register represent the least significant byte of the unitidentification. Bits 8-12 represent the tire number, bit 13 representsthe unit type and bits 14 and 15 represent the two most significant bitsof the unit identification. Bits 0-7 of the presstemp register representthe air pressure and bits 8-15 represent the temperature.

Referring back to FIG. 26B, after storing 760 the bit value in theappropriate bit position of the appropriate bit storage register, theprogram continues by incrementing the sample counter register contentsas indicated at 762 and testing 764 the contents to determine whether ornot the sample register contents correspond to a value indicative of anexpected end of the bit time. If the sample contents do not correspondto the end of the bit time, the program continues by repeating step 762until the sample register contents does indicate the end of the bittime.

When the end of the bit time has been reached, the program queries 766whether or not all eight bits in the data packet have been received andif not, the bit position sample register is incremented 768 and programflow continues back at step 744 in FIG. 26A where the above steps arerepeated for the next bit in the data packet.

Referring back to FIG. 26B when all bits in the packet have beenreceived, step 770 tests the sequence sample counter register todetermine whether or not the final 010 sequence has been received. If ithas not, the program continues at step 708 shown in FIG. 24. If it isdetermined that the final 010 sequence of the entire transmission hasbeen received, program flow continues with the execution of aconventional cyclic redundancy check CRC algorithm 772.

Upon entry of the CRC algorithm, the bit storage registers shown in FIG.27 contain respective bits representing the data in the transmitprotocol. The individual bits in the bit storage registers are used inthe cyclic redundancy check algorithm to calculate a value and compareit with the CRC byte transmitted in the transmit protocol. If thetransmitted value does not equal the calculated value, the data isconsidered invalid and is ignored. If the transmitted value is equal tothe calculated value, the bits received are assumed to be the bits sentand the data is considered valid. The data handling routine is thenexited 780 and the main program executes the second microcontrolleractivation routine 808 as shown in FIG. 22.

Second Microcontroller Activation Routine 808

Referring now to FIGS. 20 and 28, upon entry of the secondmicrocontroller activation routine 808, the state of the first output638 is determined 782 to ascertain whether or not the secondmicrocontroller 658 is on or off. If the second microcontroller is off,a power enable subroutine 784 is called which sets the first output 638active and controls the reset handshaking line thereby turning on thesecond microcontroller. Referring back to FIG. 22, the main program thenenters the upload routine 780 which communicates the bits in the bitstorage registers to the second microcontroller.

Upload Routine 810

Referring to FIG. 29, the upload routine is illustrated generally at810. In the upload routine, the subcontroller 632 activates 786 thethird output 642 to interrupt the second microcontroller 658 whereuponthe second microcontroller is rendered ready to receive data.

After activating the third output, the subcontroller 636 uses the clockhandshaking line 643 and the data line 640 to provide data 788,consisting of the bits in the bit storage registers of FIG. 27, to thesecond microcontroller. The clock handshaking line acts as a strobe toindicate to the second microcontroller the occurrence of valid data onthe data line.

The upload routine monitors the locations of bits in the storageregister as they are transferred to the second microcontroller todetermine when the final bit has been transferred as indicated at 790.If the final bit has not been transferred, the routine continues back atstep 788 to provide the next bit to the second microcontroller. If thefinal bit has been transferred, the upload routine is considered to becompleted and the subcontroller returns to running the monitoringalgorithm as indicated at 792.

Referring back to FIG. 22, upon completion of the upload routine, thesecond microcontroller has three sixteen bit registers, similar to thosedepicted in FIG. 27, which contain respective copies of the contents ofthe registers 774, 776, and 778 of the subcontroller as depicted in FIG.27. Also upon completion of the upload routine, the subcontrollermonitoring program returns to the beginning of the monitoring programand resumes by repeating steps 802-810 of FIG. 22.

Keyboard/Display Unit

Referring to FIG. 30, the keyboard/display is shown in greater detailgenerally at 643 and includes the keyboard portion 641 and a displayportion shown generally at 900. The keyboard portion 641 includes tennumeric keys shown generally at 902, for entering numeric values intothe second microcontroller and includes a plurality of control keysshown generally at 904 for selecting functions of the secondmicrocontroller. The control keys include a limit key 906, a code key908, an alarm key 910, a mode key 912, a cancel key 914, an enter key916 and ten axle keys shown generally at 918, each axle key beingdesignated with a number from 1 to 10. The keyboard portion alsoincludes the independent on/off switch 639 previously described. Allkeys of the keyboard portion are arranged in a row/column matrix formand thus function similar to a conventional row/column matrix keyboard.

The display portion 900 includes a plurality of LEDs shown generally at920, the LEDs being arranged in a two-dimensional array to represent 40tire positions, arranged into 10 display axles with 4 tires each, thetire positions being numbered from one to forty. The display portionalso includes three status LEDs shown generally at 922 and a three digit7-segment display 924. Each of the LEDs 920 and 922 are bi-colour LEDsand may be activated to produce red, green or orange light.

Second Microcontroller Physical Connections

Referring back to FIG. 20, the second microcontroller 658 is connectedto the parallel port 654 by conventional address and data linesindicated generally at 794. The second microcontroller is also connectedto external RAM 798 and ROM 800, the external ROM containing a receiverprogram including a plurality of constants for use in calculations andthe external RAM containing program defined values and tables for use bythe receiver program. In the embodiment shown, the RAM 798 is batterybacked-up to retain program defined values and tables in the event of apower failure.

The second microcontroller also has a built-in serial communicationsinterface 802 which has transmit and receive output pins shown generallyat 804 which are connected to an external communications interface 806for conventional RS-232-C serial communications. It will be appreciatedthat the communications interface 806 may be used to communicateparameters received by the second microcontroller to an external devicesuch as a portable computer, or the like.

The second microcontroller is also connected to a keyboard/displayinterface 796 which in turn is connected to the keyboard/display unit643. The main controller actuates the address and data lines 794 tocontrol the interface 796 to permit keys pressed on the keyboard to berecognized by the second microcontroller and to cause data to berepresented on the display portion 900 of the keyboard/display unit 643.

Receiver Program

The receiver program includes a power-up routine, a main loop routineand an data transfer routine.

Power-up Routine

Referring to FIG. 23, as previously described, the secondmicrocontroller is enabled, that is, is receiving power when either thekey switch is on or the on/off key on the keyboard has been pressed.When the key switch is on the second microcontroller is on until the keyis shut off. When the on/off key is pressed, the second microcontrolleris on for 5 minutes. Upon turning the second microcontroller on, thesecond microcontroller initializes variables and jumps into the mainloop 88 of FIG. 31. Program flow in the main loop is interrupted whenthe second microcontroller receives an interrupt on the interrupt input656 of FIG. 20 at which time program flow jumps to the data transferroutine beginning at 970 in FIG. 37.

Main Loop

Referring to FIG. 31, the main loop of the receiver program is showngenerally at 808. The main loop includes a keyboard checking routine810, a pressure checking routine 812 and a temperature checking routine814.

Tables

Each of the above routines cooperates with pre-defined tables defined inthe RAM. Referring to FIG. 32, the tables are shown generally at 839 andinclude a USEDMAP table 840, an AXLEMAP table shown generally at 841, aunit codes table 851, a DISPLAY table 852, a HIGH₋₋ P table 854, a LOW₋₋P table 856, a NEW₋₋ P table 858, an AUX₋₋ P table 860, a MAIN₋₋ P table862, a DELTA₋₋ P table 864, a NEW₋₋ T table 866, an AUX₋₋ T table 868,and a MAIN₋₋ T table 870.

USEDMAP Table

The USEDMAP table consists of ten consecutive memory locations. There isa one-to-one correspondence between memory locations and the axles onthe display, that is, axle 1 corresponds to memory location 1, axle 2corresponds to memory location 2 and so on. The content of each memorylocation is used to indicate the number of wheels on the correspondingaxle. An axle may have 0, 2, or 4 wheels and therefore, each memorylocation contains the number 0, 2, or 4.

AXLEMAP Table

The AXLEMAP table consists of five sub-tables identified as sub-tables0-4, the sub-tables being designated with numerical references 844-850respectively. Each sub-table has ten memory locations which are used tocontain information relating to axles on a corresponding tractor ortrailer unit. The ten memory locations of any given sub-table correspondto the possible axle positions on a unit and the content of each memorylocation corresponds to the axle on the display which corresponds to theaxle on the unit.

DISPLAY Table

The DISPLAY table has ten locations, similar to the USEDMAP table. Inthe codes and limits routines to be described below, user entered datais initially stored in the display table before being transferred intothe USEDMAP table.

HIGH P, LOW₋₋ P Tables

The HIGH₋₋ P and LOW₋₋ P tables 854 and 856 each have forty locations.Each location is used to contain a high or low pressure limit value fora corresponding tire of the display. Thus, for example, tire number 1has a low pressure limit given by the contents of the first location inthe LOW₋₋ P table and has a high pressure limit given by the firstlocation of the HIGH₋₋ P table. Similarly, tire number 40 has a lowpressure limit given by the fortieth location of the LOW₋₋ P table andhas a high pressure limit given by the fortieth location of the HIGH₋₋ Ptable.

NEW₋₋ P, AUX₋₋ P, MAIN₋₋ P and DELTA₋₋ P

The NEW₋₋ P, AUX₋₋ P, MAIN₋₋ P and DELTA₋₋ P tables 858-864 each haveforty locations, with each location corresponding to a respective tireon the display. The NEW₋₋ P and AUX₋₋ P tables are tables to which apressure byte from the second presstemp register is copied upon receiptof incoming data from the subcontroller. Whether the NEW₋₋ P table orthe AUX₋₋ P table receives the byte from the presstemp register isdetermined by the data transfer routine to be described below.

The MAIN₋₋ P table 862 also has forty locations. The contents of eachlocation are obtained by copying the contents of either the NEW₋₋ P orAUX₋₋ P tables, as determined by the pressure checking routine to bedescribed below.

The DELTA₋₋ P 864 table has forty locations, each location containing asum and count value for determining an average pressure from thepressures received from each tire unit. Each location of the DELTA₋₋ Ptable corresponds to a tire on the display.

NEW₋₋ T, AUX₋₋ T and MAIN₋₋ T Tables

The NEW₋₋ T, AUX₋₋ T, and MAIN₋₋ T tables 866-870 each have fortylocations, with each location corresponding to a respective tire on thedisplay. The NEW₋₋ T and AUX₋₋ T tables are tables to which atemperature byte from the second presstemp register is copied uponreceipt of incoming data from the subcontroller. Whether the NEW₋₋ Ttable or the AUX₋₋ T table receives the byte from the presstemp registeris determined by the data transfer routine to be described below.

The MAIN₋₋ T table 870 also has forty locations. The contents of eachlocation are obtained by copying the contents of either the NEW₋₋ T orAUX₋₋ T tables, as determined by the temperature checking routine to bedescribed below.

Keyboard Checking Routine

Referring to FIG. 33, the keyboard checking routine is shown generallyat 810. The routine begins by enabling 816 power to all of the rows ofthe keyboard. The columns are then scanned 818 to ascertain whether ornot any key has been pressed. If no key has been pressed, the keyboardchecking routine is aborted and the program continues execution with thepressure checking routine 812 in the main loop of FIG. 31. If a key hasbeen pressed however, the keyboard checking routine ascertains the rowand column of the key and determines a unique code representing the key,by consulting a look-up table which associates row/column informationwith unique codes. This is indicated at the determine key stepillustrated at step 820 in FIG. 33.

Upon determining the unique code for the key pressed, the keyboardchecking routine branches to one of a plurality of sub-routines showngenerally at 822. The plurality of sub-routines includes a codes routine824, a limits routine 826, an alarm routine 828, an axle routine 830 anda mode routine 832. Steps performed in each of the above sub-routinesare described below.

Codes Sub-Routine

The codes sub-routine 824 is invoked by the user pressing the codes key908 of FIG. 30. The routine permits the user to select axles on thedisplay to correspond to axles on a particular unit and to enter the IDcode of that unit.

Referring to FIG. 34, the codes routine is shown generally at 824. Theroutine begins by initializing a unit code table address register tozero. The routine then waits 927 for the user to press an axle key 918or the enter key 916 of FIG. 30.

Pressing an axle key causes program flow to continue with step 928wherein it is determined whether or not the enter key was pressed. Inthis example, assume the axle key was pressed and therefore program flowcontinues with step 929 wherein a verification is made that in fact, anaxle key had been pressed. If an axle key had not been pressed, programflow continues at step 927 and waits for the next key press. If the axlekey was pressed as in this example, program flow continues with step 930wherein the USEDMAP location corresponding to the selected axle is read.A test 931 is made on the contents of the USEDMAP location. If thecontents of the location in the USEDMAP table are not equal to zero, itis assumed that the axle is already used by another unit. In this case,program flow continues at step 927 wherein a further key press isawaited. If the USEDMAP location is zero, the number four is loaded intothe corresponding location in the display table as indicated at 932.Subsequently, the wheels on the selected axle are lighted in orange inaccordance with the contents with the display table location asindicated at 933.

Program flow then continues with step 927 further waiting for the nextkey press. If the key press is again the same axle key, program flowcontinues as described above until step 932 is encountered, at whichtime the display table contents are changed to 2. Then, step 933 lightsthe two outside LEDs on the display axle in orange to indicate that thetwo outside wheels on the physical axle have been selected. Program flowthen continues with step 927 wherein further key presses are awaited. Ifthe next key press is again the same axle key, program flow continues asabove until step 932 is encountered at which time the correspondinglocation in the display table is loaded with the value 0. Step 933 thenturns off all four LEDs on the display axle and program flow continuesat step 27 waiting for another key press. From the above, it may be seenthat continued pressing on an axle key while in the codes subroutinecycles the contents of the display table location corresponding to theselected axle through the sequence 4-2-0 with the LEDs corresponding tothe wheels on the physical axle being lighted accordingly.

Still referring to FIG. 34, upon pressing the axle key as above, thedisplay table location corresponding to the selected axle contains anumber representing the number of wheels on the axle. When the axle keyhas been pressed the desired number of times to select the actual numberof wheels on the axle, the enter key is pressed which directs programflow to step 934 which reads the contents of the corresponding displaytable location. If the contents are zero, the routine returns to 942 tothe main loop 808 of FIG. 31. If the display table location contents arenot zero, the user is prompted for entry of a unit ID number asindicated at step 935. The program then waits for entry of the ID numberas indicated at step 936. Upon entry of the ID number, the ID number isused to point to the starting address of the AXLEMAP sub-tablecorresponding to the unit. If, for example, three different axles havebeen entered with the same ID number, the first three locations of theAXLEMAP table corresponding to that ID number are loaded with the axlenumbers corresponding to the axle keys pressed. Any unused locations inthe selected AXLEMAP table are loaded with the value -1. After loadingthe relevant AXLEMAP table, the USEDMAP table 840 of FIG. 32 is loadedwith the contents of the display table.

Referring back to FIG. 34, upon loading the AXLEMAP and USEDMAP tables,the codes routine sets the LED's on the display corresponding to thewheels selected on each of the selected axles to be lighted in green.This is indicated at step 939. Next, the display table is erased asindicated at 940 and subsequently, the unit code table address registercontents are incremented as indicated at 941. It will be appreciatedthat the unit codes table 851 of FIG. 32 implements a unit to ID mappingtable which associates unit number, such as 1, 2, 3, etc. with the unitID numbers associated with the tire units. Thus, upon entry of the codesroutine, it was stated that the unit number is set to zero as indicatedat 926. When the user enters an ID number in step 936, this ID number isloaded into the mapping table to associate the ID number with unit zero.Upon execution of step 941, the unit number is incremented, in whichcase the user would be prompted again for another ID number with such IDnumber being associated with unit number one and so on.

The codes routine illustrated in FIG. 34 is continually executed untilthe enter key is pressed without having first pressed an axle key. Inthis case, program flow continues through steps 927, 928, 934 and 942whereupon the codes routine is exited and other portions of the keyboardchecking routine are executed.

The loading of the AXLEMAP and USEDMAP tables may be easier understoodby referring to FIG. 35, wherein the mining truck is illustratedgenerally at 84, a first trailer connected to the mining truck isillustrated at 886 and a second trailer connected to the first trailer886 is shown generally at 888. It may be seen that the mining truck 884has three axles labeled 1, 2 and 3. The first trailer also has threeaxles labelled 1, 2 and 3, and the second trailer has two axles labelled1 and 2. The first axle of the mining truck has two wheels while thesecond and third axles have four wheels each. All three axles on thefirst trailer have four wheels and the first axle of the second trailerhas two wheels while the second axle of the second trailer has fourwheels.

Following the codes routine described in FIG. 34, the mining truck 884is associated with the unit zero AXLEMAP sub table 842, the firsttrailer is associated with the unit one AXLEMAP sub table 844 and thesecond trailer is associated with the unit two AXLEMAP sub table 846. Ifthe first axle on the mining truck is to be represented by the firstaxle on the display, the unit zero AXLEMAP table 842 has a firstlocation loaded with a 1, the 1 representing the axle on the display.The second axle of the mining truck would be represented by the secondaxle on the display and therefore the unit zero AXLEMAP sub table 842would have a second location loaded with a 2. Similarly, the thirdlocation would be loaded with a 3. The remaining locations four throughten would be loaded with -1 to indicate that there are no other axles onthe unit. In a similar manner, the first axle on the first trailer 886is represented by axle number 4 on the display and therefore a 4 isentered into the first location of the unit one sub table 844. Thesecond axle of the first trailer is represented by axle 5 on the displayand therefore the second location of the unit one sub table 844 isloaded with a 5. Similarly, a 6 is loaded in the third location of theunit one sub table 844 to represent the third axle of the first trailer886. The remaining locations of the unit one sub table 844 are loadedwith the value -1.

The first axle of the second trailer 888 is represented by axle number 7on the display and therefore the unit two sub table 846 has a firstlocation containing the value 7. Similarly, the second axle on thesecond trailer 888 is represented by the eighth axle on the display andtherefore the second location of the unit two sub table 846 contains thevalue 8. The remaining locations of the unit two sub table 846 areloaded with the value -1.

In accordance with the above example, the codes routine shown in FIG. 34loads the USEDMAP table with the number of wheels to be represented oneach display axle. Thus, the first location of the USEDMAP table 840contains the value 2 to represent the two wheels on the first axle ofthe mining truck 884. The second and third locations both contain thevalue 4 to represent the four wheels on axles two and three of themining truck 884. The fourth, fifth and sixth locations each contain thevalue 4 to represent the number of wheels on axles one, two and three ofthe first trailer 886. Similarly, locations seven and eight contain thevalues 2 and 4 respectively to represent the number of wheels on axlesone and two of the second trailer 888. No other trailers are connectedto the second trailer and therefore locations nine and ten of theUSEDMAP table contain the value 0.

Limits Routine

Referring to FIG. 36, the limits routine is shown generally at 826. Theroutine is invoked by the user pressing the limits key 906 on thekeyboard/display unit shown in FIG. 30. The routine loads high and lowpressure limits into the HIGH₋₋ P and LOW₋₋ P tables 854 and 856 of FIG.32 for later comparison to pressure values transmitted by thetransmitters.

The routine begins by waiting 944 for the user to press an axle key toindicate an axle having wheels for which pressure limits are to be setor for the user to press the enter key.

If an axle key is pressed, step 945 causes program flow to proceed withstep 946. Step 946 checks to verify that the key pressed is, in fact, anaxle key. If the key pressed is not an axle key, program flow continuesat step 944, waiting for a further key press.

If the axle key has, in fact, been pressed, program flow continues withstep 947 which lights the tire LED's for the axle selected in orange.Program flow then continues with step 948 which copies the contents ofthe USEDMAP table location corresponding to the selected axle to thecorresponding display table location. Program flow then continues withstep 944 whereupon further key presses are awaited.

Assuming an axle key was pressed first, subsequent pressing of the enterkey is recognized by step 945 which diverts program flow to step 949.Step 949 checks to see whether or not there are any entries in thedisplay table. If there are entries, these entries would be the resultof executing step 948 previously. If there are no entries in thedisplay, the user has pressed the enter key without entering any axlesand therefore the limits routine is aborted and program flow continueswith other portions of the keyboard checking routine as indicated at956.

Assuming there are valid entries in the display table locationcorresponding to the selected axle, step 949 directs program flow tostep 950 which prompts the user for a high limit value. The user entersthe high limit value using the numeric key pad 902 of FIG. 30, asindicated at step 951 in FIG. 36. At step 952, the limits routinemultiplies the axle number by four to determine a base address of fourcontiguous locations in the HIGH₋₋ P table corresponding to the fourLED's on the display axle associated with the axle. The high pressurevalue entered by the user is loaded into each of the four locations inthe HIGH₋₋ P table. Thus, it may be seen that the high pressure limit isset on an axle basis.

In a similar manner, the user is prompted for a low pressure limit asindicated at 953. The user enters the low pressure limit using thenumeric key pad as indicated at 954. Locations in the LOW₋₋ P table arelocated by multiplying the axle number by four to determine the baseaddress of the four contiguous locations corresponding to the four LED'sassociated with the axle. The value entered by the user at step 954 isloaded into these four locations in the LOW₋₋ P table. Upon entry of thelow limit, the limits routine 826 is completed and program flowcontinues with the keyboard checking routine as indicated at 956.

Mode Routine

The mode routine waits for the user to enter a numeric code representinga pre-determined function. In the embodiment described onepre-determined function dims the LEDs for use of the apparatus at nightand a second predetermined function selects whether temperature orpressure readings are displayed when in the axle routine describedbelow.

Axle and Alarm Routines

A discussion of the axle and alarm routines is deferred until after thedata receiving routine has been described to permit full appreciation ofthe interaction between these routines and the data received from thesubcontroller.

Data Transfer Sub-Routine

Referring to FIG. 37 the data transfer subroutine is shown generally at970. The routine interacts with the NEW₋₋ P and AUX₋₋ P tables 858 and860 of FIG. 32 and associated semaphore registers (not shown) identifiedas NEWPRESS and AUXPRESS designated 971.1 and 971.2 respectively. TheNEWPRESS and AUXPRESS semaphore registers are loaded with status codesidentified as NONEW, WAITING, and BUSY and having definitions asfollows:

NONEW: indicates that no new data has been received in the associatedtable;

WAITING: indicates that the associated table has just received data andis ready to be copied; and

BUSY: indicates that the associated table was being copied before beinginterrupted by the occurrence of the data transfer routine.

Referring to FIG. 37 the data transfer sub-routine begins by reading 971the NEWPRESS and AUXPRESS semaphore registers 971.1 and 971.2. Thestatus of the NEWPRESS semaphore register is then tested 972 todetermine the status of the contents of the NEW₋₋ P table 858 of FIG.32.

Referring to FIG. 37 if the status of the NEWPRESS semaphore register971.1 is "BUSY" the sub-routine calls 974 a register-to- table copyroutine in which the pressure byte of the second presstemp register 778of FIG. 27 is copied into a location of the AUX₋₋ P table 860 of FIG. 32and the AUXPRESS semaphore register 971.2 of FIG. 37 is loaded 975 withthe WAITING status code.

Referring to FIG. 37 if the status of the NEWPRESS semaphore register971.1 is not BUSY, the pressure byte of the second pressure register iscopied into a location of the NEW₋₋ P table 858 of FIG. 32 as indicatedat 978 in FIG. 37.

The NEWPRESS semaphore register 971.1 is then loaded 979 with theWAITING status code and the data transfer of pressure data is completed.

The data transfer routine then copies 975.1 the temperature byte of thesecond presstemp register of FIG. 27 into a location of the AUX₋₋ T orNEW₋₋ T table. Steps similar to those recited above are performed usingNEWTEMP and AUXTEMP semaphore registers (not shown) to determine whichtable, AUX₋₋ T or NEW₋₋ T, is to receive the temperature byte.Processing then returns 980 to the location in the main loop of FIG. 31where processing was interrupted upon entry of the data transferroutine.

Register-To-Table Copy Routine

The register-to-table copy routine executed by the data transfersub-routine is shown generally at 982 in FIG. 38.

Determination of NEW₋₋ P or AUX₋₋ P Location

In the process of loading the NEW₋₋ P or AUX₋₋ P tables 858 and 860 ofFIG. 32 the unit ID number and the tire number found in the second coderegister 776 of FIG. 27 are used to determine the location in therespective table in which the pressure or temperature value is to bestored.

Referring to FIG. 38 the register-to-table copy routine begins byreading 984 the unit ID code from the second code register.

The routine then determines 986 the starting address of the AXLEMAPsub-table corresponding to the ID code. For example, if the transmissionwas from a wheel of the tractor depicted in FIG. 35, the ID code wouldestablish that AXLEMAP sub-table 0 (item 842 in FIG. 32) is the relevantsub-table and would determine its starting address.

The routine then determines 988 the number of the axle on the unit, onwhich the wheel, associated with the received transmission, is mounted.This is done by dividing by four, the tire number (N) contained in thesecond code register 776 of FIG. 27 to determine a number L representingthe number of the axle on the unit on which the tire is located.

The routine then determines 990 the address of the location in theAXLEMAP table which contains the number of the axle on the displaycorresponding to the unit axle. This is done by adding the number of theaxle on the unit (i.e. L) to the starting address of the AXLEMAPsub-table 842. The number of the display axle which will be referred toas the variable "C" is obtained by reading the calculated location ofthe AXLEMAP sub-table 842.

The location of the sub-table into which the pressure byte should bestored is then determined 992 by substituting the values L, C and N,into the following equation:

    4(C-L)+N=T

where

L is a number 1, 2, 3 etc corresponding to the axle number of the axlerelative to the unit;

C is a number 1, 2, 3, etc stored in location L of the AXLEMAP sub-tablefor the given unit, the number indicating the axle on the display whichcorresponds to the axle on the unit;

N is the tire number of the tire relative to the unit (N may be anynumber from 1-40);

T is the DISPLAY table location (1-40) corresponding to the tireidentified by the unit number and tire number.

Having determined the location, the pressure byte from the secondpresstemp register is then copied 994 into the NEW₋₋ P or AUX₋₋ P tablelocation specified by "T" and the register-to-table copy routine iscompleted.

Pressure Checking Routine General

Referring to FIG. 31, the pressure checking routine 812 is executed uponcompletion of the keyboard checking routine 810. Referring to FIG. 39,the pressure checking routine is shown generally at 812. The routinebegins by executing a table copy routine 974 and then executing acomparing routine 976. Upon completion of the comparing routine, thepressure checking routine is completed and program flow continues withthe temperature checking routine 814 of FIG. 31.

Table Copy Routine

The table copy routine is shown generally at 974 in FIG. 40. The routinebegins by reading 998 the NEWPRESS and AUXPRESS semaphore registers971.1 and 971.2 of FIG. 37. A test is then made 1000 to determinewhether or not the NEWPRESS register has WAITING status. If so, then thecontents of the NEW₋₋ P table 858 of FIG. 32 are copied 1002 intocorresponding locations of the MAIN₋₋ P table 862 of FIG. 32. After thecopy is finished the NEWPRESS semaphore register 971.1 is set 1003 toNONEW. The AUXPRESS semaphore register 971.2 is then tested 1004 todetermine whether or not the AUXPRESS register has WAITING status. Ifso, the AUXPRESS semaphore register is set 1005 to BUSY and the contentsof the AUX₋₋ P table 860 of FIG. 32 are copied 1006 into correspondinglocations of the MAIN₋₋ P table 862. Upon completion of the copy, theAUXPRESS semaphore register 971.2 is set 1007 to NONEW.

If neither the NEWPRESS or AUXPRESS registers 971.1 or 971.2 containwaiting status, the table copy routine is completed and processingreturns 1008 to the pressure checking routine 812 of FIG. 39 andcontinues with the compare routine 976.

Upon completion of the table copy routine, the MAIN₋₋ P table 862 ofFIG. 32 contains the latest pressure values for all tires and processingreturns 1008 to the pressure checking routine 812 of FIG. 39, whereuponthe compare routine 976 is executed.

Compare Routine 976

The compare routine is shown generally at 976 in FIGS. 41A and 41B.Referring to FIG. 41A, the compare routine begins by comparing 1012 allentries in the MAIN₋₋ P table 862 of FIG. 32 with corresponding entriesin the LOW₋₋ P table 856.

A test 1014 is performed to determine whether or not any of the MAIN₋₋ Ptable entries is less than its corresponding entry in the LOW₋₋ P table.

If none of the MAIN₋₋ P table entries is lower than its correspondingLOW₋₋ P table entry, the routine then compares 1016 all entries of theMAIN₋₋ P table with corresponding entries of the HIGH₋₋ P table.

A test 1018 is then performed to determine whether or not any of theMAIN₋₋ P table entries is greater than its corresponding entry in theHIGH₋₋ P table 854.

If none of the MAIN₋₋ P table entries is greater than its correspondingentry in the LOW₋₋ P table, the routine compares 1020 all entries of theMAIN₋₋ P table with corresponding entries of the DELTA₋₋ P table.

A test 1022 is then performed to determine whether or not the pressurevalues in the MAIN₋₋ P table 862 of FIG. 32 have changed more thanvalues stored in corresponding locations in the DELTA₋₋ P table 864 ofFIG. 32.

If a pressure value has not changed more than the allowable value, theroutine then reads 1024 the battery condition bit from the batteryregister as indicated in FIG. 41B.

A test 1026 is made to determine whether or not the battery conditionbit is set and if set, the battery status indicator 922 on the displayof FIG. 30 is set 1028 to red.

Referring to FIGS. 41A and 41B, if any of the tests 1014, 1018 or 1022indicates that the pressure value is abnormal, the pressure indicator922 on the display is set to red, and the five LEDs corresponding to theoffending MAIN₋₋ P table locations are light 1030 RED.

Referring to FIG. 41B, upon setting the battery indicator to RED orsetting the DISPLAY table locations to RED, an audible alarm is sounded1032 to alert the operator of an abnormal condition. The operator candetermine the condition causing the alarm by observing the statusindicators 922. Furthermore, the operator can determine which specificwheel is in the abnormal condition by observing RED wheel LEDs on thedisplay.

Upon sounding the audible alarm or upon the successful completion ofeach of the tests 1014, 1018, 1022, and 1026 new DELTA₋₋ P table 864values are calculated 1034 by using the last ten pressure valuesreceived to calculate an estimated rate of change of pressure, the newvalues replacing old values in the DELTA₋₋ P table. The compare routineis thus completed and processing returns 1036 to the pressure checkingroutine 812 of FIG. 39.

Referring to FIG. 39, upon completion of the compare routine 976, thepressure checking routine 812 is completed and processing returns 978 tothe main loop 808 of FIG. 31.

Temperature Checking Routine 814

Referring back to FIG. 31, upon completion of the pressure checkingroutine 812, the main loop 808 executes the temperature checking routine814. The temperature checking routine is similar to the pressurechecking routine shown in FIG. 39 and therefore may be easily describedby referring to its differences from the pressure checking routine. Thetemperature checking routine 814 is similar to the pressure checkingroutine 812 with the following exceptions:

1) the data transfer routine cooperates with semaphore registers NEWTEMPand AUXTEMP which are used to indicate the status of the NEW₋₋ T andAUX₋₋ T tables;

2) the copy routine copies temperature values from the NEW₋₋ T or AUX₋₋T tables into corresponding locations of the MAIN₋₋ T table; and

3) the compare routine only compares temperature values in the MAIN₋₋ Ttable to a value representing an average value calculated by taking anaverage of all values in the table.

Upon completion of the temperature routine 814, the main loop iscompleted and processing returns to the keyboard checking routine 810 ofthe main loop 808.

Deferred Discussion of Axle and Alarm Routines Axle Routine

Referring to FIGS. 30 and 42 the axle routine 830 is invoked upon theuser pressing an axle key 918 without pressing one of the control keys904 first.

Referring to FIG. 42 upon pressing an axle key, the axle routinedetermines 1038 the numeric value (i.e. 1-10) of the axle key pressed.

The routine then checks 1039 to see whether or not an axle key waspreviously pressed in this routine. If this is the first press of theaxle key in this routine, the contents of the USEDMAP table 840 of FIG.32 location specified by the axle key pressed are obtained 1040. A test1042 is made and if the contents are zero the routine is aborted andprogram flow continues back at the check keyboard routine 810 of FIG.31.

If the contents of the USEDMAP location specified by the axle key aregreater than zero, the LED indicating the first tire on the axle islighted in orange as indicated at 1044. Next, the contents of the MAIN₋₋P table location corresponding to the lighted LED are read and displayed1048 on the seven segment display portion 924 of the keyboard displayshown in FIG. 30. The axle routine is then completed and program flowreturn 1056 to the check keyboard routine 810 of FIG. 31.

After completing the above steps, a subsequent press of the same axlekey will cause step 1039 to divert program flow to step 1050 whichretrieves the contents of the USEDMAP location specified by the axle keypressed. Using the contents of the USEDMAP location, step 1052determines the next LED representing the next wheel on the axle. Forinstance, if the contents of the USEDMAP location corresponding to theselected axle is 2, the first tire on the axle to be lighted by step1044 would be the tire on the uppermost portion of the display for theselected axle. Upon completion of step 1052, the lowermost LED for theselected axle would be lighted as there are only two tires on theselected axle. Similarly, if the selected axle has four tires, the nextLED in the sequence as determined by step 1052 would be the LEDimmediately below the uppermost LED on the axle. Subsequent presses ofthe same axle key will light the third and fourth LED's on the axleaccordingly.

Upon selecting a subsequent wheel on a given axle, all LED'srepresenting tires on the axle are lighted in green with the exceptionof whichever LED represents the tire selected. Such LED is lighted inorange to indicate the wheel selected.

Referring to FIG. 30, the mode key 912 is used to select betweenpressure and temperature values being displayed on the seven segmentdisplay 924 of FIG. 30. Initially, upon entry of the axle routine,pressure values are displayed on the seven segment display. Pressing themode key 832 causes step 1048 to recall the contents of the MAIN₋₋ Ttable location corresponding to the selected wheel. A subsequent pressof the mode key causes step 1048 to revert back to reading the MAIN₋₋ Ptable location corresponding to the selected wheel.

Alarm Routine

Referring to FIG. 33, the alarm routine 828 is entered by the userpressing the alarm key. The alarm routine merely serves to permit theuser to acknowledge that an alarm has occurred. The alarm routine shutsoff the audible alarm and changes the pressure, temperature, or batteryindicator status and associated tire indicator (depending on whichparameter caused the alarm) to solid red from flashing red caused by thealarm condition.

OPERATION

To use the apparatus, a user acquires a plurality of pre-programed tireunits such as shown at 44.1 and 44.2 in FIG. 2, such that a single tireunit may be connected to each tire of the vehicle. In the case of themining tractor 32 of FIG. 1, the vehicle has six wheels and thereforesix tire units are required. The user also requires a cab unit 42, theantenna 602 of which is mounted on top of the cab of the tractor 32. Theuser thus has a plurality of measurement and transmission circuits and areceiver for receiving a received transmission from each of themeasurement and transmission circuits.

The tire units acquired by the user are pre-programed with values storedin the registers shown generally at 376 in FIG. 16. In the presentexample, each tire unit has a unit function register 434 programed withthe value 00000 to indicate that the unit measures pressure andtemperature. Similarly, the unit ID registers 436 and 438 arepre-programed with eight and two zeros respectively to indicate that thetire unit is to be mounted on the zeroth unit. Unit type register 440 ispre-programed with the value zero to indicate that the unit on which thetire unit is to be mounted will be a tractor. The tire number register442 of each tire unit is programed with a different tire number. In theembodiment shown, the tire number registers 442 are programed withnumbers representing tire positions on the tractor. Each tire unit willbear a label indicating the contents of the registers 434 through 442.

By looking at the labels on the tire units, the user can match tireunits with tires on the vehicle. Referring to FIGS. 30 and 35, the tirepositions on the tractor are identified as follows. When viewing thetractor from above, the right front tire is tire number one, tires twoand three are null or void tire positions, and tire 4 is the left fronttire. Referring to FIG. 1, the tractor depicted therein has only asingle rear axle and therefore referring back to FIG. 30, tire positions5, 6, 7 and 8 are null or void positions, and tire positions 9 and 10are used to identify outside and inside right rear tires respectivelywhereas tire positions 11 and 12 are used to identify the inside andoutside left rear tires respectively. With the tire positions identifiedin this way, tire unit number 1 is installed on the tire in position 1.Similarly, tire unit number 4 is installed on the tire in Position 4 andsimilarly for the rear wheels.

With the tire units installed on their respective tires, referring toFIG. 4, the end cap 78 may be unscrewed and a battery such as indicatedat 94 may be inserted into the second chamber 95 and connected to thefirst printed wiring board as shown. The end cap 78 may then bere-installed, after which the tire units are rendered ready to measureand transmit air temperature and pressure.

After each tire unit has received a battery, it becomes operational. Thetire units then operate independently to measure air temperature andpressure of their respective tire. Each tire unit thus transmits afrequency shift keyed electromagnetic signal in accordance with thetransmit protocol depicted in FIG. 18 every 10 minutes.

After having installed all of the tire units, the user enters the cab ofthe vehicle and programs the cab unit 42 of FIG. 1 to respond to thetransmissions produced by each tire unit.

Referring to FIG. 30, the user presses the on/off key 639 to activatethe second micro-controller and place it in the active mode. The userthen presses the codes key 908 to invoke the codes subroutine 824depicted in FIG. 34. Referring back to FIG. 30, the user presses axlekey number I whereupon the contents of the first location in the USEDMAPtable of FIG. 32 are retrieved. Upon initial start-up of the device, theUSEDMAP table location contains the value 0. This value is set to 4 andis loaded into the first DISPLAY table location which causes theindicators 920, corresponding to tire positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 to belighted in orange. A further press of axle key number 1 causes thecontents of the DISPLAY table location corresponding to axle number 1 tochange to the value 2 whereupon indicators 920 corresponding to tirepositions 1 and 4 are lighted. As this is the configuration whichaccurately represents the two tires on the front of the tractor, theuser then presses the enter key 916. Pressing the enter key causes theletters I.D. to appear on the display 924. This serves as a promptrequesting the user to enter the ID number printed on the label of thetire unit. This prompting step is depicted at step 935 in FIG. 34.

The ID was previously mentioned to be 00 00000000. The user would thusenter 0 using the numeric keys 902 and the microcontroller would enter00 00000000 into the first location of the unit codes table. Referringto FIG. 32, the appropriate AXLEMAP 841 and unit codes table 851 areautomatically changed to reflect the ID code entered. The AXLEMAP table842 corresponding to unit zero has a first location loaded with thevalue 1 and the unit codes table 851 of FIG. 32 has a first locationloaded with the value 00 00000000. The USEDMAP table 840 of FIG. 32 thenhas its first location loaded with the number 2 to indicate that thereare two tires on the first axle. Referring to FIG. 30 the indicators 920in positions 1 and 4 are then changed from orange to green, the DISPLAYtable 852 of FIG. 3 is erased and the unit code table address registeris incremented to point to the second location in the unit code table.

A similar procedure is used to enter the ID numbers of tire units 9, 10,11 and 12. Using the above procedure, the third location in the AXLEMAPtable 842 of FIG. 32 is loaded with the value 3 to indicate that thethird axle on the tractor is represented by the third axle on thedisplay. In addition USEDMAP table location number 3 is loaded with thevalue 4 indicating that 4 tires are mounted on the third axle.Indicators 920 corresponding to tire positions 9, 10, 11 and 12, arethen changed from orange to green, the DISPLAY table is erased and thecode table address register is incremented. At this point, theidentification of each tire has been entered and therefore the userpresses the enter key at 916 which causes the codes routine to return tothe keyboard checking routine as indicated at 942 in FIG. 34.

Next, the user enters the pressure limits for the tires on each axle.Referring to FIG. 30, the user presses the limits key 906 which invokesthe limits routine 826 of FIG. 36.

Upon invoking the limits routine, the user presses the first axle key toselect high and low pressure limits for tires on the first axle. Uponpressing the first axle key, the indicator in tire positions 1 and 4 arelighted in orange which indicates that the tires on axle number 1 havebeen selected for limit setting. After selecting axle number 1, theenter key 916 is pressed. The user is then prompted on the numericdisplay at 924 to enter the high limit. The high limit is entered byusing the numeric keys 902 on the keypad. After entering the high limit,the user presses the enter key 916 which causes the pressure value justentered by the user to be loaded into the HIGH₋₋ P table 854 of FIG. 32such that locations 1 and 4 contain the value entered by the user.

Similarly, the user is prompted on the numeric display 924 to enter thelow pressure limit. The user enters the low pressure limit using thenumeric keys 902, followed by the enter key 916. Locations 1 and 4 ofthe LOW₋₋ P table 856 of FIG. 32 are then loaded with the low pressurevalue entered by the user. It will be appreciated that each tire on agiven axle has the same high and low pressure limits.

After entering the low pressure limit, the limits routine is exited andprogram flow continues with the keyboard checking routine. The receiverunit is thus programmed and ready to receive transmissions from each ofthe six tire units.

Referring to FIG. 6, each tire unit normally takes a pressure and atemperature measurement each 20 seconds. As it is impossible to starteach of the tire units at the same time, it will be appreciated thateach tire unit is started at a different time and therefore measurementsof pressure and temperature are taken at different times. Similarly,each tire unit transmits to the receiver each 10 minutes, suchtransmissions occurring at different times. Consequently, to thereceiver, transmissions appear to come at random and sometimestransmissions from two different units may occur simultaneously. Toalleviate this problem, the transmissions are kept very short asindicated by the transmit protocol shown in FIG. 18. As thetransmissions are short and the time between transmissions is long,statistically the chances of two transmissions overlapping is rathersmall.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the first micro-controller in tire unit number1, wi 11 enter the active mode every 2.5 seconds. Upon each entry intothe active mode, the first and second interrupt counter registers ofFIG. 7 will be incremented to record each entry into the active mode.Under normal conditions, upon the expiry of 20 seconds, an analog todigital conversion of the air pressure in the tire, air temperature inthe tire, and battery voltage of the battery 94 of FIG. 4 is performed.The result of the analog to digital conversion is used in a comparisonto determine whether or not the pressure, temperature and batteryvoltage are within predetermined ranges. The presently acquired valuesare then stored, the first and second interrupt counters are reset andthe processor is returned to the low power mode.

If the result of the comparison indicates that the pressure ortemperature values are outside a predetermined range, the rate ofsampling and hence the occurrences of analog to digital conversion areincreased by setting appropriate flags in the comparison routine.

Regardless of the sampling rate, the later acquired temperature andpressure values are transmitted to the receiver at 10 minute intervals.If it is found that the pressure or temperature values are increasing ata rate greater than a specified limit, the pressure and temperaturevalues are transmitted to the receiver three successive times at 2.5second intervals. Thus the occurrence of transmissions from a given tireunit is increased when a pressure or temperature is changing at a rategreater than a pre-defined rate. The occurrence of transmissions isincreased in order to increase the statistical likelihood that thetransmission will be received by the receiver.

Referring to FIG. 20, signals received by the antenna 602 at thereceiver are amplified by amplifier 604 and applied to the FMdemodulator circuit 608. The FM demodulator circuit converts thereceived electromagnetic signal into a bit stream appearing on output616. The bit stream is received by the subcontroller which at this pointis executing the zero sequence detector subroutine depicted in FIG. 24.

The zero sequence detector subroutine counts the number of successivelyoccurring zeros in the bit stream and if the number of successive zerosis greater than a predetermined value, it is assumed that a valid signalis being received. The subcontroller then executes the 010 sequencehandling subroutine which locates the leading and trailing edges of the"1" of the 010 sequence in the transmission and sets a counter to a zeroposition corresponding to the centre of the "1" bit in the sequence.

In accordance with the data handling subroutine of FIGS. 26A and 26B,successive bits in the bit stream are sampled at 30%, 50% and 70% bittimes. If each of these three samples of each bit are consistent witheach other, the value of the bit is stored in the appropriate bitposition of the appropriate register of FIG. 27. In the event that a bitis corrupted by noise or by simultaneous reception of a transmissionfrom another tire unit, the three successive samples taken during eachbit time will not be consistent and the data handling routine will beaborted. In such an event, the registers of FIG. 27 are cleared untilreloaded by the data handling subroutine upon receipt of the nexttransmitted signal from any unit. Thus, it will be appreciated that atransmission from a given unit must be received accurately in itsentirety before the received transmission will be considered valid.

Each packet of data in the transmission is eight bits long and thereforethe data handling routine will continue to receive valid bits in thepacket until all eight bits have been received. When all eight bits havebeen received, the data handling routine returns program flow to the 010sequence handling routine to permit the receiver to re-synchronize tothe next 010 sequence. This process is repeated until all packets andhence all bits of the transmission have been received. Thus the 010sequence handling routine acts as re-synchronizing means forre-synchronizing to the transmission upon receiving eachre-synchronizing code in said received transmission, there-synchronizating means searching the transmission for a bit sequenceof the form 0-1-0 appearing before the identifier, after the identifier,before the code and after the code. The 010 sequence handling routineand the data handling routine act to implement sampling means forsampling the received transmission at regular intervals in time todetermine the occurrence of the "1" in the 0-1-0 re-synchronizer code, asample counter which is reset and started at a time corresponding to anapproximate mid-bit position of the "1", incrementing means forincrementing the sample counter at regular intervals in time, andsampling means for sampling the received transmissions at said regularintervals in time to determine the code and the identifier.

Upon receiving an entire transmission, the registers depicted in FIG. 27will contain bits representing codes sent by a given tire unit. Thecyclic redundag check information is then checked. The subcontroller 632of FIG. 20 will then interrupt the second microcontroller 658 whereuponthe contents of the registers shown in FIG. 27 are copied into similarregisters existing in the RAM 798 shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 37, the second microcontroller enters the datatransfer routine, shown generally at 970 in FIG. 37. The secondmicrocontroller then determines whether the pressure and temperaturevalues are to be loaded into the NEW₋₋ P or AUX₋₋ P and NEW₋₋ T andAUX₋₋ T tables 858, 860, 866 and 868 respectively. The semaphoreregisters 971.1 and 971.2 are used to determine which table is toreceive the pressure values and similar semaphore registers are used todetermine which table is to receive the temperature values. Upondetermining which table is to receive which values, theregister-to-table copy routine depicted in FIG. 38 is executed.

The register-to-table copy routine reads the unit ID code from thesecond code register 776 of FIG. 27 and determines the AXLEMAP subtable841 corresponding to the unit ID code. In this example, the unit ID codeis 00 00000000. This value is compared to the contents of the unit codestable 851 of FIG. 32 to determine the starting address of the AXLEMAPsubtable corresponding to the unit.

In this example, the AXLEMAP subtable corresponding to the unit ID codeis table number zero, identified as 842 in FIG. 32. The tire number isthen read from the codes register 776 of FIG. 27 to determine the axlenumber on which the tire having the tire unit is mounted. In the examplegiven, the tire unit from which transmissions are being received ismounted in tire position number a and therefore the axle number is 1.Next, the address of the location in the AXLEMAP table which containsthe number of the axle on the DISPLAY corresponding to the unit axle isdetermined. The NEW₋₋ P, AUX₋₋ P, NEW₋₋ T or AUX₋₋ T table location intowhich the pressure or temperature byte shown in FIG. 27 is to be copiedis determined by substitution into the equation:

    4(C-L)+N=T

where

L is a number 1, 2, 3 etc corresponding to the axle number of the axlerelative to the unit;

C is a number 1, 2, 3, etc stored in location L of the AXLEMAP sub-tablefor the given unit, the number indicating the axle on the DISPLAY whichcorresponds to the axle on the unit;

N is the tire number of the tire relative to the unit (N may be anynumber from 1-40);

T is the DISPLAY table location (1-40) corresponding to the tireidentified by the unit number and tire number.

The pressure or temperature byte is then copied into the correspondinglocation T in the appropriate table. The data transfer routine is thuscompleted and the second microcontroller enters the Pressure checkingroutine.

The pressure checking routine copies the contents of the AUX₋₋ P orNEW₋₋ P 858 tables into the MAIN₋₋ P table 862. Each entry in the MAIN₋₋P table is then tested against corresponding contents of the HIGH₋₋ Pand LOW₋₋ P tables 854 and 856 to determine whether the pressure valuein the MAIN₋₋ P table is within the limits specified by the HIGH₋₋ P andLOW₋₋ P table locations. The contents of the MAIN P table are thencompared to the contents of corresponding locations in the DELTA₋₋ Ptable 864 to determine whether the pressure has changed by more than apredetermined amount. If the pressure value is outside the rangesprovided by the HIGH₋₋ P and LOW₋₋ P tables 854 and 856, or if thepressure change is greater than that permitted by the DELTA₋₋ P table,the alarm routine is entered.

In the alarm routine the display indicator corresponding to the tire,for example tire number 1, is flashed in red and an audible buzzer issounded. The user acknowledges that an alarm has occurred by pressingthe alarm key 910 on the display shown in FIG. 30. Pressing the alarmkey stops the buzzer and changes the indicator status from flashing redto solid red. If, however, the pressure values are within the specifiedlimits and have not changed by more than the allowable value, no alarmis sounded and the pressure checking routine is exited. A similarprocedure is performed in the temperature checking routine to deal withtemperature values.

It will be appreciated that at the receiver, the MAIN₋₋ P table 862 ofFIG. 32 contains up-to-date pressure values representing the airpressure in each of the tires of the vehicle. Similarly, the MAIN₋₋ Ttable 870 holds temperature values corresponding to air temperature ineach of the tires on the vehicle. Specific locations in the MAIN₋₋ Ptable and MAIN₋₋ T table are updated each time a valid transmission isreceived. Thus, the MAIN₋₋ P table and MAIN₋₋ T table each contain anup-to-date list of pressures and temperatures in each of the tires onthe vehicle.

Should the user so desire, a numerical indication of the pressure ortemperature of air in a given tire can be observed by pressing an axlekey 918 shown in FIG. 30, whereupon the axle routine depicted in FIG. 42is entered. Pressing an axle key causes the first indicator 920corresponding to the selected axle to be lighted in orange. For example,if axle key 1 is pressed, the indicator corresponding to tire positionnumber 1 i.e. the right front tire of the tractor is lighted in orange.Upon lighting the appropriate indicator, the contents of thecorresponding location in the MAIN₋₋ P table are retrieved and displayedon the numeric display 924. Pressing the mode key 912 causes thecontents of the corresponding location in the MAlN₋₋ T table to beretrieved and displayed on the display 924 to view the air temperaturein the tire instead of pressure. A further press of the first axle keychanges the colour of the indicator representing tire position number 1to green and changes the colour of the indicator representing tireposition number 4 to orange. The contents of the MAIN₋₋ P or MAIN₋₋ Ttable are then retrieved and displayed on the DISPLAY 924 to representthe pressure or temperature in the tire in the fourth position, i.e. theleft front tire of the vehicle. Similarly, the user may select axlenumber 3 to observe the pressures and temperatures of each of the tireson the third axle (rear axle) of the vehicle.

ALTERNATIVES

It will be appreciated that the above system is not limited for usestrictly with mining vehicles. The apparatus may effectively be used onlogging trucks, semi-trailers, conventional passenger vehicles, orvirtually any pneumatic tired vehicle.

It will be appreciated that the analog-to-digital conversion implementedby the comparators, first microcontroller and analog-to-digitalconversion algorithm provides a convenient way of providing theanalog-to-digital conversion function using a small number of componentsand therefore requiring only a small amount of space and consuming asmall amount of power. If space occupation and power consumption are notparticularly important to a skilled worker attempting to use theapparatus and methods disclosed herein, then the analog-to-digitalconversion function can be implemented using conventional methods suchas employing an analog multiplex, a sample and hold circuit and aconventional analog-to-digital converter circuit.

It will also be appreciated that the antenna shown in FIG. 4 need notnecessarily include the straight portion 91. The straight portion isincluded in the embodiment shown to illustrate a method of transmittinga relatively strong electromagnetic signal to the receiver.Alternatively, however, where the distance between the transmitter andthe receiver is short, the straight portion is not required and theantenna may include only the coiled portion 89, the coiled portionpermitting a sufficiently strong electromagnetic signal to be produced.In an embodiment using only the coiled portion 89, the cap 78 may beentirely sealed and moisture ingress virtually eliminated.

Referring to FIG. 4, a specific way of mounting the tire unit to thewheel was described. Such a mounting method is acceptable where thedistance between the tire and the outer portion of the flexible pipe isrelatively short and hence the air in the flexible pipe and, moreparticularly, the air in the first chamber is at approximately the sametemperature as air in the tire. Furthermore, when this distance isshort, the time lag between changes in air temperature in the tire andchanges in air temperature in the chamber is negligible. For uses of theapparatus where the flexible pipes are relatively long or where greaterconvenience of mounting is required, the mounting method shown in FIG.43 may be employed.

Referring to FIG. 43, an alternative method of mounting the tire unit tothe wheel is shown generally at 2000. In this alternative method, a rim2002 on which a tire is mounted is provided with a threaded opening 2004in communication with an inside space 2006 between the rim and the tire.Also, in this alternative method, the housing portion 53 is replacedwith a cylindrical adaptor 2008 having a threaded male portion 2010which mates with the threaded opening 2004 in the rim, and a receptacleportion shown generally at 2012. The receptacle portion 2012 has ashoulder portion 2014 having an O-ring groove 2016 for receiving anO-ring 2018 to provide an airtight seal between the cylindrical adaptor2008 and the rim 2002.

The threaded male portion 2010 has a relatively large conduit 2011 whichleads from the inside space of the tire to a receptacle 2020 formedwithin a threaded circular wall portion 2022 of the receptacle portion2012. The threaded circular wall portion 2022 is similar to the circularwall portion 72 shown in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 43, the generally circular cap 78 ofFIG. 4 is fastened to the threaded circular wall portion 2022 of FIG. 43by a threaded circular collar 2024 similar to the circular collar 80shown in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated that the embodiment shown inFIG. 43 includes circuit boards and an antenna coil which are mounted inthe receptacle and cap respectively in manners similar to that shown inFIG. 4 and therefore are not repeated here.

It will be appreciated that the relatively large conduit 2011 in suchclose proximity to the inside space of the tire permits temperaturechanges in air in the inside space to be relatively quickly transmittedto the temperature sensor mounted on the circuit board. In theembodiment shown, the thickness of the rim is approximately 0.75 incheswhich permits the temperature sensor to be within 0.75 inches of theinside space of the tire and thus air in the vicinity of the temperaturesensor is generally at the same temperature as air in the inside spaceof the tire.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of measuring and transmitting, themethod including the steps of:(a) developing a first signal in responseto a physical quantity, property or condition; (b) sampling said firstsignal to produce an instantaneous first signal value; (c) encoding saidinstantaneous first signal value by assigning a first code to saidinstantaneous first signal value; and (d) transmitting a transmissionfor reception by a receiver, said transmission including:(i) said firstcode; (ii) an identification code identifying said physical quantity,property or condition such that said identification code enables saidtransmission to be distinguished from other similar transmissionsreceived by the same receiver; and (iii) a plurality of receiverresynchronization codes for resynchronizing a receiver receiving thetransmission.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step ofsampling includes:(a) testing said signal to determine whether it meetsa first or second set of conditions; (b) sampling said signal at a firstrate when said signal meets said first set of conditions; and (c)sampling said signal at a second rate when said signal meets said secondset of conditions.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stepof testing includes:(a) comparing a later acquired first code with anearlier acquired first code; (b) meeting said first set of conditionswhen said later acquired first code is within a pre-defined range ofsaid earlier acquired first code; and (c) meeting said second set ofconditions when said later acquired first code is outside a pre-definedrange of said earlier acquired first code.
 4. A method as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the step of testing includes:(a) determining a rate ofchange of said first signal; (b) meeting said first set of conditionswhen said rate of change of said signal is within a pre-defined range ofa pre-defined rate of change; and (c) meeting said second set ofconditions when said rate of change of said first signal is outside apre-defined range of a pre-defined rate of change.
 5. A method asclaimed in claims 2 or 3 or 4, wherein the step of sampling includessampling with said first rate being less than said second rate.
 6. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting includestransmitting a later acquired first code at first regular intervals oftime.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step oftransmitting includes:(a) testing said signal to determine whether ornot said signal meets a first or second set of conditions; (b)transmitting at said first regular intervals of time when said firstsignal meets said first set of conditions; and (c) transmitting atsecond regular intervals of time when said first signal meets saidsecond set of conditions.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein thestep of testing includes:(a) comparing the later acquired first codewith an earlier acquired first code; (b) meeting said first set ofconditions when said later acquired first code is within a pre-definedrange of said earlier acquired first code; and (c) meeting said secondset of conditions when said later acquired first code is outside ofpre-defined range of said earlier acquired first code.
 9. A method asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting includes:(a)determining a rate of change of said first signal; (b) meeting saidfirst set of conditions when said rate of change of said signal iswithin a pre-defined range of a pre-defined rate of change; and (c)meeting said second set of conditions when said rate of change of saidfirst signal is outside a pre-defined range of a pre-defined rate ofchange.
 10. A method as claimed in claims 7, 8 or 9, wherein the step oftransmitting at said first regular intervals of time includes the stepof making said first regular intervals of time longer than said secondregular intervals of time.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe step of encoding includes the step of converting said instantaneousfirst signal into a binary code.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the step of developing said first signal includes employing atemperature transducer to develop said first signal in response totemperature.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step ofdeveloping includes employing a temperature transducer to develop saidfirst signal in response to air temperature in a tire.
 14. A method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the step of developing includes employing apressure transducer to develop said first signal in response topressure.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step ofdeveloping includes employing a pressure transducer to develop saidfirst signal in response to air pressure in a tire.
 16. An apparatus formeasuring and transmitting, the apparatus including:(a) a transducer fordeveloping a first signal in response to a physical quantity, propertyor condition; (b) sampling means for sampling said first signal toproduce an instantaneous first signal value; (c) encoding means forassigning a first code representative of said instantaneous first signalvalue; and (d) transmitting means for transmitting a transmission to areceiver, said transmission including:(i) said first code; (ii) anidentification code identifying said physical quantity, property orcondition such that said identification code enables said transmissionto be distinguished from other similar transmissions received by thesame receiver; and (iii) a plurality of receiver resynchronization codesfor resynchronizing a receiver receiving the transmission.
 17. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sampling meansincludes:testing means for testing said signal to determine whether itmeets a first or second set of conditions and for sampling said signalat a first rate when said signal meets said first set of conditions andfor sampling said signal at a second rate when said signal meets saidsecond set of conditions.
 18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17,wherein the testing means includes:comparing means for comparing a lateracquired first code with an earlier acquired first code and wherein saidfirst set of conditions are met when said later acquired first code iswithin a pre-defined range of said earlier acquired first code andwherein said second set of conditions are met when said later acquiredfirst code is outside of a pre-defined range of said earlier acquiredfirst code.
 19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the testingmeans includes:determining means for determining a rate of change ofsaid first signal and wherein said first set of conditions are met whensaid rate of change of said signal is within a pre-defined range of apre-defined rate of change and wherein said second set of conditions aremet when said rate of change of said first signal is outside apre-defined range of a pre-defined rate of change.
 20. An apparatus asclaimed in claims 17, 18 or 19, wherein the first sampling rate is lessthan the second sampling rate.
 21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16,wherein the transmitting means is for transmitting a later acquiredfirst code at first regular intervals of time.
 22. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the transmitting means includes:testingmeans for testing said signal to determine whether or not said signalmeets a first or second set of conditions and for transmitting at saidfirst regular intervals of time when said first signal meets said firstset of conditions an for transmitting at second regular intervals oftime when said first signal meets said second set of conditions.
 23. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the testing meansincludes:comparing means for comparing a later acquired first code withan earlier acquired first code and wherein said first set of conditionsare met when said later acquired first code is within a pre-definedrange of said earlier acquired first code and wherein said second set ofconditions are met when said later acquired first code is outside of apre-defined range of said earlier acquired first code.
 24. An apparatusas claimed in claim 22, wherein the transmitting meansincludes:determining means for determining a rate of change of saidfirst signal and wherein said first set of conditions are met when saidrate of change of said signal is within a pre-defined range of apre-defined rate of change and wherein said second set of conditions aremet when said rate of change of said first signal is outside of apre-defined range of a pre-defined rate of change.
 25. An apparatus asclaimed in claims 22 or 23 or 24, wherein the first regular intervals oftime are longer than said second regular intervals of time.
 26. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the encoding means performs ananalog-to-digital conversion on said instantaneous first signal toproduce a binary first code.
 27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16,wherein the transducer includes a temperature transducer for developingsaid first signal in response to temperature.
 28. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 16, wherein the transducer includes a temperaturetransducer for developing said first signal in response to airtemperature in a tire.
 29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, whereinthe transducer includes a pressure transducer for developing said firstsignal in response to pressure.
 30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16,wherein the transducer includes a pressure transducer for developingsaid first signal in response to air pressure in a tire.
 31. Anapparatus for measuring and transmitting an operating parameter of atire, the apparatus including:(a) a pneumatic tire; (b) a transducer fordeveloping a first signal in response to air pressure or air temperaturewithin said tire; (c) sampling means for sampling said first signal toproduce an instantaneous first signal value; (d) encoding means forassigning a first code to said instantaneous first signal value; and (e)transmitting means for transmitting a transmission to a receiver, saidtransmission including:(i) said first code; (ii) an identification codeidentifying said physical quantity, property or condition such that saididentification code enables said transmission to be distinguished fromother similar transmissions received by the same receiver; and (iii) aplurality of receiver resynchronization codes for resynchronizing areceiver receiving the transmission.
 32. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 31, wherein the sampling means includes:testing means for testingsaid signal to determine whether it meets a first or second set ofconditions and for sampling said signal at a first rate when said signalmeets said first set of conditions and for sampling said signal at asecond rate when said signal meets said second set of conditions.
 33. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the testing meansincludes:comparing means for comparing a later acquired first code withan earlier acquired first code and wherein said first set of conditionsare met when said later acquired first code is within a pre-definedrange of said earlier acquired first code and wherein said second set ofconditions are met when said later acquired first code is outside of apre-defined range of said earlier acquired first code.
 34. An apparatusas claimed in claim 32, wherein the testing means includes:determiningmeans for determining a rate of change of said first signal and whereinsaid first set of conditions are met when said rate of change of saidsignal is within a pre-defined range of a pre-defined rate of change andwherein said second set of conditions are met when said rate of changeof said first signal is outside of a pre-defined range of a pre-definedrate of change.
 35. An apparatus as claimed in claims 32 or 33 or 34,wherein the first rate is less than the second rate.
 36. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 31, wherein the transmitting means is for transmittinga later acquired first code at first regular intervals of time.
 37. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the transmitting meansincludes:testing means for testing said signal to determine whether ornot said signal meets a first or second set of conditions and fortransmitting at said first regular intervals of time when said firstsignal meets said first set of conditions, and for transmitting atsecond regular intervals of time when said first signal meets saidsecond set of conditions.
 38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37,wherein the testing means includes:comparing means for comparing a lateracquired first code with an earlier acquired first code and wherein saidfirst set of conditions are met when said later acquired first code iswithin a pre-defined range of said earlier acquired first coded andwherein said second set of conditions are met when said later acquiredfirst code is outside a pre-defined range of said earlier acquired firstcode.
 39. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the transmittingmeans includes:determining means for determining a rate of change ofsaid first signal and wherein said first set of conditions are met whensaid rate of change of said signal is within a pre-defined range of apre-defined rate of change, and wherein said second set of conditionsare met when said rate of change of said first signal is outside of apre-defined range of a pre-defined rate of change.
 40. An apparatus asclaimed in claims 37 or 38 or 39, wherein the first regular intervals oftime are longer than said second regular intervals of time.
 41. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the encoding means performs ananalog-to-digital conversion on said instantaneous first signal toproduce a binary first code.
 42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31,wherein the transducer includes a temperature transducer for developingsaid first signal in response to temperature.
 43. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 42, wherein the temperature transducer is external tothe tire.
 44. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein thetransducer includes a pressure transducer for developing said firstsignal in response to pressure.
 45. An apparatus as claimed in claim 44,wherein the pressure transducer is external to the tire.
 46. Anapparatus for measuring and transmitting an operating parameter of atire, the apparatus comprising:(a) a body having connecting means forconnecting said body to a valve stem of a tire and a chamber pressurizedby air from said tire; (b) measuring means for measuring aninstantaneous value of at least one operating parameter in said chamber,the measuring means including sampling means for automatically samplingsaid instantaneous value of said at least one operating parameter atregular intervals in time to produce a first code representative of saidinstantaneous value; and (c) transmitting means for transmitting atransmission to a receiver, said transmission including:(i) said firstcode; (ii) an identification code identifying said physical quantity,property or condition such that said identification code enables saidtransmission to be distinguished from other similar transmissionsreceived by the same receiver; and (iii) a plurality of receiverresynchronization codes for resynchronizing a receiver receiving thetransmission.
 47. An apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein the bodyhas a conduit therein, the conduit having first and second openings, thefirst opening being connectable to the valve stem, and the secondopening having a valve member mounted thereto to permit air to be forcedinto the tire while preventing air from escaping from said tire.
 48. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 47 wherein the conduit is in communicationwith the chamber.
 49. An apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein thetransmitting means includes an antenna.
 50. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 46 further including pressure measurement means for measuring thepressure of air in said tire.
 51. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50wherein said pressure measurement means includes a pressure sensorhaving a voltage which varies in response to air pressure in saidchamber.
 52. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50 wherein saidtransmitting means transmits a representation of said pressure in saidtire.